Non-thermal plasma-assisted ambient hydrolysis of polyesters to monomers
Catalyst- and solvent-free recycling technology using non-thermal water vapor plasma to rapidly hydrolyze aliphatic polyesters into monomers and oligomers under ambient conditions. The process enables efficient recovery of chemical building blocks from polyester waste, with tunable reaction parameters for optimization and straightforward collection and separation of products.
Overview
This technology offers a novel approach to polyester recycling by using non-thermal water vapor plasma to hydrolyze aliphatic polyesters into their constituent monomers and oligomers. Operating at ambient temperature and pressure without catalysts, solvents, or additional chemicals, the process simplifies product collection and separation while reducing environmental impact. The approach addresses a need for efficient, selective methods to recover valuable chemical building blocks from polyester waste, supporting circular economy initiatives.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Uses non-thermal water vapor plasma to drive hydrolysis reactions under ambient conditions
- Eliminates the need for catalysts, solvents, and other chemical inputs
- Produces monomers and oligomers that are easily collected and separated
- Builds on validated plasma-assisted upcycling of polyethylene glycol to ethylene glycol monomers within minutes
- Reaction parameters tunable for optimization, including plasma power, water vapor pressure, and reaction time
- Applicable to pure polyesters such as PET and to mixed polyester systems, including real-world samples
Technology readiness level
The underlying non-thermal plasma-assisted hydrolysis approach has been demonstrated with polyethylene glycol, achieving fast and selective monomer and oligomer production under ambient temperature and pressure. The technology has not yet been tested on aliphatic polyesters. Planned validation includes initial experiments with pure PET to confirm the hypothesis, followed by systematic optimization of reaction parameters and extension to additional polyester systems and mixed samples. The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development, with strong foundational evidence supporting its applicability to polyesters.
About University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a comprehensive public research university and the state’s flagship, known for broad disciplinary breadth and large-scale research. Industry engages through the Innovista research district, with facilities offering co‑located labs and leasable wet‑lab space, and through an Office of Economic Engagement that serves as a single front door. Integration with Prisma Health via the Schools of Medicine in Columbia and Greenville enables clinical research, training and translation. Research draws competitive federal support from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE and NASA, with defense sponsors also active. A dedicated commercialization team advances IP, licensing and startup formation.
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