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At least 37 records · Page 2

Evaluating hydrogen permeation through medium-density and high-density polyethylene pipes to enable a hydrogen-compatible infrastructure

As the United States and the global community pursue energy abundance and resilience, hydrogen is becoming a critical energy carrier. The future of hydrogen transport depends on one thing: verifying that today’s pipelines are hydrogen ready. This study investigates the permeation behavior of medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines under pure hydrogen gas environment at various pressures and temperatures. Using thermal desorption analysis (TDA) and direct pipe permeability measurements, hydrogen loss rates are quantified, revealing minimal permeation losses (< 10.5 g/km/day) under realistic operating conditions. Effects of temperature and pressure with Standard Dimension Ratios (SDR), were evaluated to determine their influence on permeation rates of MDPE and HDPE pipelines. In addition, ex-situ density and degree of crystallinity (DOC) of MDPE and HDPEs after hydrogen exposure were also investigated to understand pressure-dependency of polymer properties. The findings provide essential data for assessing polymer-based pipeline materials for safe and reliable hydrogen transport.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Upcycling linear low-density polyethylene waste to turbostratic graphene for high mass loading supercapacitors

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) waste is difficult to upcycle into more valuable carbon materials because it tends to completely decompose into small molecules during thermal processing. In this work, LLDPE is upcycled into a high quality turbostratic graphene using a pre-treatment step to oxidatively crosslink the polymer with the assistance of solid additives (KCl and K 2 CO 3 ) that improve crosslinking by increasing the effective surface area of the polymer melt during processing. After this pretreatment step, the crosslinked polymer could then be carbonized and catalytically graphenized between 400–950°C without decomposition of the polymer feedstock. The LLDPE derived graphene (LLDPE-G) obtained from this process has a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area, up to 1800m 2 g -1 and average Raman I D /I G and I 2D /I G ratios of 0.85 and 0.57, respectively, indicating high quality graphene. When used as an electrode material in symmetric supercapacitors, LLDPE-G possesses a specific capacitance up to 175Fg -1 at a mass loading of 20mgcm -2 , which is two times the commercial requirement, yielding an areal capacitance of 3.5 Fcm -2 . Moreover, LLDPE-G exhibits exceptional cycling stability with a capacitance retention of 95.8 % after 100,000 cycles at a current density of 4.0 Ag -1 . Additionally, the KCl and K 2 CO 3 solids are recycled and reused over 3 complete reaction cycles to make new LLDPE-G with the material quality and electrocapacitive performance retained and verified after each cycle. Our approach creates new opportunities for upcycling waste LLDPE and other varieties of polyethylene into a higher value graphene used for electrochemical energy storage applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Multicopper Oxidase from Paenibacillus Polyethylenelyticus JNU01 Oxidizes Polyethylene

Polyethylene (PE) is a widely used plastic that persists in the environment and resists breakdown via microbial degradation. In this work, we discovered a new bacterium, Paenibacillus polyethylenelyticus JNU01, that grows on a PE-like wax (PELW, 4 kDa) as its sole carbon source, causing chemical modifications to the substrate and releasing small-molecule products. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses identified a multicopper oxidase (PpMmcO) as a key enzyme candidate for this observed activity. PpMmcO promoted surface oxidation, increased hydrophilicity, and the release of small-molecule products such as ketones, alkanes, and alkenoic acids. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed surface damage on both PELW and post-use greenhouse PE films. Weight loss analysis showed mass losses of 5.2% for the PELW powder and 1.6% for the greenhouse PE film after treatment with wild-type PpMmcO. We propose a radical-mediated pathway catalyzed by PpMmcO. These findings identify a new bacterium and enzyme capable of promoting partial PE oxidation and provide insight into biological processes that may act on polyethylene.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Polyethylene Upcycling to Liquid Alkanes in Molten Salts under Neat and External Hydrogen Source-Free Conditions

Development of facile approaches to convert plastic waste into liquid fuels under neat conditions is highly desired but challenging, particularly without noble metal catalysts and an external hydrogen source. Herein, highly efficient and selective polyethylene-to-gasoline oil (branched C 6 –C 12 alkanes) conversion was achieved under mild conditions (<170 °C) using commercially available AlCl 3 -containing molten salts as reaction media and to provide catalytic sites (no extra solvents, additives, or hydrogen feeding). The high catalytic efficiency and selectivity was ensured by the abundant active Al sites with strong Lewis acidity (comparable to the Al type in acidic zeolite) and highly ionic nature of the molten salts to stabilize the carbenium intermediates. Dynamic genesis of the Al sites was elucidated via time-resolved Al K-edge soft X-ray and 27 Al NMR, confirming the tricoordinated Al 3+ as active sites and its coordination with the as-generated alkene/aromatic intermediates. Further, the carbenium formation and polyethylene chain variation was illustrated by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and an isotope-labeling experiment. Theoretical simulations further demonstrated the successive hydride abstraction, β-scission, isomerization, and internal hydrogen transfer reaction pathway with AlCl 3 as active sites. This facile catalytic system can further achieve the conversion of robust, densely assembled, and high molecular weight plastic model compounds to liquid alkane products in the diesel range.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Revisiting the activity of two poly(vinyl chloride)- and polyethylene-degrading enzymes

Biocatalytic degradation of non-hydrolyzable plastics is a rapidly growing field of research, driven by the global accumulation of waste. Enzymes capable of cleaving the carbon-carbon bonds in synthetic polymers are highly sought-after as they may provide tools for environmentally friendly plastic recycling. Despite some reports of oxidative enzymes acting on non-hydrolyzable plastics, including polyethylene or poly(vinyl chloride), the notion that these materials are susceptible to efficient enzymatic degradation remains controversial, partly driven by a general lack of studies independently reproducing previous observations. Here, we attempt to replicate two recent studies reporting that deconstruction of polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) can be achieved using an insect hexamerin from Galleria mellonella (so-called “Ceres”) or a bacterial catalase-peroxidase from Klebsiella sp., respectively. Reproducing previously described experiments, we do not observe any activity on plastics using multiple reaction conditions and multiple substrate types. Digging deeper into the discrepancies between the previous data and our observations, we show how and why the original experimental results may have been misinterpreted.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

STUDIES ON PIPELINE POLYETHYLENES IN HYDROGEN GAS ENVIRONMENTS USING IN-SITU AND EX-SITU CHARACTERIZATION METHODS

Polymeric materials are commonplace in the natural gas infrastructure as distribution pipes, coatings, seals, and gaskets. Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy HyBlend program, one of the means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is with replacing natural gas, either partially or completely, with hydrogen. This approach makes it imperative that we conduct near-term and long-term materials compatibility research in these relevant environments. Insights into the effects of hydrogen and hydrogen gas blends on polymer integrity can be gained through both ex-situ and in-situ analytical methods. Our work represented here highlights a study of the behavior of pipeline polyethylene (PE) materials, including HDPE (Dow 2490 and GDB50) and MDPE (Ineos and legacy Dupont Aldyl A), when exposed to hydrogen by means of in-situ X-ray scattering and ex-situ Raman spectroscopy techniques. Samples were tested in ex-situ hydrogen and argon gas environments and in-situ hydrogen environments to identify differences due to permeation and solubility of these gases. These methods complemented each other because Raman spectroscopy could capture permanent effects after materials were removed from gaseous environments, and in-situ X-ray scattering analysis collected real-time data to elucidate the impact of the gas environment on polymer microstructure. Data collected revealed that the aforementioned polymers did not show significant changes in crystallinity and microstructure under the exposure conditions tested. Our findings from these studies will help establish real-time effects caused by hydrogen gas transport through pipeline polyethylenes by way of its influence on polymer structure and chemistry, which is directly related to pipeline mechanical strength and longevity of service.

Hydrogen materials compatibility, Natural gas pipe↗

Comparison of Mechanical Properties of Lignin/High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Composites and Wood/HDPE Composites

Lignin is a plant-derived, the second most abundant natural polymer, and a waste byproduct of the pulp industry. Incorporation of lignin into plastic composites using scalable approaches is commercially favored and low carbon-cost. Potential end applications for lignin plastic composites (LPCs) could be found in buildings and furniture where wood plastic composites (WPCs) are used in various components. This study compares the mechanical properties of LPCs and WPCs, aiming at the examination of the viability of the use of LPCs as alternative materials to WPCs in the building industry. Sodium ligninsulfonate (SLS)-based LPC blended with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (45 wt.%) and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) as a compatibilizer (5 wt.%) reached flexural strength (35.17 and 30.92 MPa respectively) and moduli (2.87 and 1.79 GPa respectively) comparable to benchmarking WPCs. Lignin dealkaline (LD)-based LPC exhibited higher ultimate strain but lower strength than SLS-based LPC, probably due to fragmentation during the post-sulfite treatment steps.

cellulose and other wood products↗

Quantum Simulations of Radiation Damage in a Molecular Polyethylene Analog

Abstract An atomic‐level understanding of radiation‐induced damage in simple polymers like polyethylene is essential for determining how these chemical changes can alter the physical and mechanical properties of important technological materials such as plastics. Ensembles of quantum simulations of radiation damage in a polyethylene analog are performed using the Density Functional Tight Binding method to help bind its radiolysis and subsequent degradation as a function of radiation dose. Chemical degradation products are categorized with a graph theory approach, and occurrence rates of unsaturated carbon bond formation, crosslinking, cycle formation, chain scission reactions, and out‐gassing products are computed. Statistical correlations between product pairs show significant correlations between chain scission reactions, unsaturated carbon bond formation, and out‐gassing products, though these correlations decrease with increasing atom recoil energy. The results present relatively simple chemical descriptors as possible indications of network rearrangements in the middle range of excitation energies. Ultimately, the work provides a computational framework for determining the coupling between nonequilibrium chemistry in polymers and potential changes to macro‐scale properties that can aid in the interpretation of future radiation damage experiments on plastic materials.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Catalytic Deconstruction of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer and Polyethylene Mixtures via Hydroconversion: Challenges and Solutions

We explore hydrogenolysis over ruthenium supported on zirconia (Ru/ZrO 2 ) and hydrocracking over platinum (Pt) supported on zeolites as an effective end-of-life strategy for ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)–a widely used performance heat sealant in hard-to-recycle multilayer packaging. For Ru/ZrO 2 hydrogenolysis, EVA reacts slower than low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and the catalyst deactivates due to carbonaceous deposits originating from polyenes generated in situ during EVA thermal degradation. High H 2 pressures and temperatures can overcome catalyst deactivation; however, CH 4 yields are excessive due to cascade hydrogenolysis stemming from strong C=C/metal interactions. Polyene hydrogenation allows chains anchored by C=C to desorb from Ru, shifting product selectivity from CH 4 to higher-value liquids. Hydrogenolysis of mixed EVA and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), mirroring typical frozen food packaging formulations, results in comparable catalyst activity and CH 4 yield as the pure EVA resin. For Pt/zeolite hydrocracking, pure EVA and EVA:LLDPE mixtures are deconstructed to propane or light naphtha with minimal CH 4 production. Among catalysts tested, Pt/HY gives the highest liquid productivity (g C5+products /g cat ·h). Furthermore, these findings showcase the recalcitrant nature of EVA and its associated mixtures for Ru/ZrO 2 hydrogenolysis, highlighting that hydrocracking catalysts may be superior for complex packaging waste.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Synthesis and Properties of Poly(vinyl chloride)- b -polyethylene Multiblock Copolymers through the Hydrodechlorination of PVC with Silylium Ions

Polymer compatibilizers stabilize the interface between two immiscible polymers to allow for a material that improves properties for additional use. Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) is a common compatibilizer, yet there does not exist a synthetic pathway either from monomers or via the functionalization of polyethylene (PE) to yield a polymer that has a controlled chlorine amount and primary structure along the polymer chain. Herein, we report a series of novel block copolymers of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and PE, synthesized through selective hydrodechlorination of PVC. Contrary to CPE, the full range of chlorination can be obtained and the block number can be altered. Interfacial adhesion studies reveal samples with competitive compatibilization of PVC/polyolefin elastomer blends (POE). In conclusion, this method shows that post-polymerization modification can be a strategic top-down synthesis to achieve high performance polymers.

Wood, Zachary A. [Univ. of Southern California, Lo↗

Catalytic closed-loop recycling of polyethylene-like materials produced by acceptorless dehydrogenative polymerization of bio-derived diols

Petroleum-derived polyolefins exhibit diverse properties and are the most important and largest volume class of plastics. However, polyolefins are difficult to efficiently recycle or break down and are now a persistent global contaminant. Broadly replacing polyolefins with bio-derived and degradable polyethylene-like materials is an important yet challenging endeavour towards sustainable plastics. Here, in this study, we report a solution for circular bio-based polyethylene-like materials synthesized by acceptorless dehydrogenative polymerization from linear and branched diols and their catalytic closed-loop recycling. The polymerization and depolymerization processes utilize earth-abundant manganese complexes as catalysts. These materials exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties, encompassing thermoplastics to plastomers to elastomers. The branched diols, produced through a thiol-ene click reaction, can be polymerized to plastics with significantly enhanced tensile properties, toughness and adhesive properties. These materials could be depolymerized back to monomers through hydrogenation and were separatable with a monomer recovery of up to 99%, unaffected by the presence of dyes and additives. Overall, this system establishes a route to more sustainable plastics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Upcycling Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Waste into Graphene for High Mass Loading Supercapacitors

Polyethylene is notoriously difficult to upcycle because it decomposes into light gases at approximately 350-400 °C which prevents processing it at higher temperatures to convert it into electrode materials. We address this challenge by using an air-based, thermos-oxidative process, which heats linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) just below the decomposition point to initiate oxidation and cross-linking of LLDPE alkyl chains. These molecular transformations allow LLDPE to be graphenized at 950 °C without decomposing. The LLDPE-derived graphene (LLDPE-G) has a BET specific surface area up to 1,800 m2/g and Raman ID/IG ratio of 0.85. When used as electrode material for a symmetric supercapacitor with the 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte, LLDPE-G possesses an specific capacitance up to 175 F/g at mass loading of 20 mg/cm2, yielding an areal capacitance of 3.5 F/cm2. The cycling stability with capacitance demonstrates a retention of 95.8% after 100,000 cycles at high current density of 4.0 A/g.

Gao, Yuan↗

Upcycling Polyethylene Waste to Advanced Carbon Materials for Energy Storage Applications

Polyethylene is notoriously difficult to upcycle because it decomposes into light gases at approximately 350-400 °C which prevents processing it at higher temperatures to convert it into high-value carbon materials, such as graphene or graphite. We address this challenge by using an air-based, thermo-oxidation process, which heats polyethylene (PE) just below the decomposition point to initiate oxidation and cross-linking of PE alkyl chains. These molecular transformations allow PE to be further graphenized or graphitized at higher temperatures without decomposing. The PE-derived graphene has a specific surface area up to 1,800 m 2/g and Raman ID/IG ratio of 0.85, which enables it to be used as an electrode material for a symmetric supercapacitor with the 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte. The PE-derived graphene material has a comparable electrochemical capacitive performance, such as power density, specific capacitance, and long cycle stability, to the commercial state of art porous carbon electrode. The stabilized PE could also be converted into highly crystalline flake graphite via low-temperature catalytic graphitization. The PE-derived graphite is used for the lithium-ion battery anode, which showed comparable electrochemical battery performance, such as reversible rate performance and long-term cyclic stability, to the current use battery-grade graphite, thus providing a scalable method to upcycle PE plastic waste into high-value carbon material.

Gao, Yuan↗

The LLNL rabbit: determination of trace element levels in polyethylene

Rabbit facilities are systems that pneumatically transport a sample carrier (known as a rabbit) to and from a radiation source. However, trace impurities in the polyethylene (PE) rabbit may interfere with measurements of short-lived isotopes. Activated impurities with short half-lives as 28 Al interfere with the fission product γ-ray, therefore the rabbit cannot be measured immediately. Neutron activation analysis was performed on various PE samples obtained from different manufacturers and the highest quality PE was used to fabricate a high-purity PE rabbit. Here, the impurities identified in the PE study were 27 Al, 48 Ca, 37 Cl, 50 Cr, 65 Cu, 127 I, 26 Mg, 55 Mn, and 30 Si.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Upcycling Polyethylene Waste into Hybrid Graphitic Porous Carbon Materials Used in High‐Performance Zinc‐Ion Hybrid Capacitors

Polyethylene (PE) waste is a challenge to upcycle into useful materials because this plastic tends to decompose into volatile compounds when heated at relatively low temperatures. In this work, mixtures of PE wastes into a hybrid graphitic porous carbon (HGPC) by a thermal oxidation pretreatment step, with assistance of an inert solid additive (KCl), to functionalize, crosslink, and stabilize the PE waste followed by carbonization and catalytic graphitization steps with a potassium carbonate catalyst, are upcycled. The PE waste‐derived HGPC (PW‐HGPC) has a hybrid structure composed of graphene‐like carbon nanosheets grown on the surface of carbon particles, high porosity with specific surface area, up to 1,763 m 2 g −1 , and good graphitic degree with average Raman I 2D / I G ratios of 0.53. When used as cathode material for zinc‐ion hybrid capacitors, this PW‐HGPC exhibits an excellent specific capacity, up to 126.7 mAh g −1 , at high mass loading of 10 mg cm −2 . Moreover, PW‐HGPC exhibits remarkable cycling stability with capacity retention of >94% after 10 000 cycles. Additionally, the KCl is recycled and reused over five times. This method provides a new solution for upcycling PE wastes into high value‐added carbon materials, not only for zinc‐ion hybrid capacitors but also for other electrochemical energy storage device applications.

hybrid graphitic porous carbon↗

Investigating the Role of Acid Sites in the Hydrocracking of Polyethylene-EVOH Multilayer Film Waste over Pt/BEA Catalyst

Multilayer polymer films (MFs) containing poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) and polyolefins are ubiquitous in single-use food and medical packaging. MFs are currently landfilled or incinerated rather than mechanically recycled because of the processing difficulties associated with their form factor and complex multicomponent structures. Advanced chemical recycling is a promising solution. Prior reports have explored hydrogenolysis and hydrodeoxygenation to convert EVOH, but these technologies are limited by catalyst deactivation and slow apparent kinetics, respectively. Alternatively, in this work, we demonstrate the efficient hydrocracking of commercial MFs into naphtha range (C5-C12) alkanes over platinum (Pt) supported on acidic zeolites. Mixtures of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and EVOH are utilized as MF surrogates to gain fundamental insights. Pt deposited on BEA supports with varying Lewis acid site (LAS) concentrations are synthesized and tested for hydrocracking. Surprisingly, Pt/BEA with high LAS concentrations demonstrate improved activity for LPDE/EVOH blends over LDPE alone. In contrast, LAS concentrations are shown to have no influence on LDPE hydrocracking. LAS and Brønsted acid sites (BAS) catalyze the dehydration of EVOH to form water, which improves LDPE hydrocracking. Polyaromatics formed primarily via EVOH thermal degradation lead to detrimental coke formation, which hinders hydrocracking activity. Reaction conditions and feed ratios of LDPE and EVOH are tuned to balance these competing effects. Reusability tests demonstrate that Pt/BEA maintains high activity (81% conversion in 2 h) and high selectivity towards naphtha (78%) over multiple reuse cycles. Furthermore, these findings position hydrocracking as a promising technology for the circularity of complex MF plastic waste.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of Specimen Thickness on Fracture Toughness and Plane Stress to Plane Strain Transition in Medium-Density Polyethylene

This study investigates the effect of specimen thickness on fracture toughness and the transition from plane stress to plane strain conditions in Medium-Density Polyethylene (MDPE) using Single Edge Notched Bend (SENB) specimens. Three thickness groups (7.5 mm, 9.0 mm, and 12.1 mm) were tested following ASTM D5045 protocol. Conditional stress intensity factors (KQ) increased from 2.2 MPavm to 2.8 MPavm with increasing thickness, demonstrating significant size dependency. Confocal microscopy revealed a 34% reduction in maximum crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) from 0.478 mm to 0.314 mm as thickness increased, with plastic zone lateral extent decreasing by 32%. This quantitative evidence validates Irwin's theoretical prediction of plastic zone size transition from plane stress r_y˜ (1/2p) (K_I/s_y )^2 to plane strain conditions r_y˜ (1/6p) (K_I/s_y )^2.Scanning electron microscopy confirmed progressive suppression of shear lips and evolution from ductile tearing with extensive polymer chain drawing in thin specimens to localized crazing in thick specimens. Despite all specimens satisfying the ASTM D5045 criterion (B = 2.5(KQ/s_y )^2 ) ,residual shear lips persisted even in the thickest specimens, demonstrating that nominal size requirements alone are insufficient for achieving complete plane strain conditions in highly ductile polymers. The findings emphasize the necessity of integrated analytical and morphological assessment for valid fracture toughness characterization, with critical implications for life assessment and integrity prediction in thick-section polymer components such as natural gas distribution pipelines.

Medium-Density Polyethylene↗

Hydrogen-rich syngas production from the steam co-gasification of low-density polyethylene and coal refuse

Gasification provides a promising pathway for transforming waste materials into valuable products, such as fuels and chemicals. Here, this study investigates the steam co-gasification of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and compressed thickener underflow, representative of coal refuse (CR), in a drop tube reactor. The effects of feed blend ratio (0–100 wt% LDPE) and temperature (800–1000 °C) on syngas composition, tar formation, and process efficiency are examined. The high volatility of LDPE makes it more reactive than CR but also promotes the formation of 2–7 ring aromatic tars. Increasing temperature improves carbon conversion efficiency (CCE), cold gas efficiency (CGE), and syngas yield, although the lower heating value (LHV) of syngas decreases. Hydrogen is the dominant gas product, reaching 59 vol% with the H 2 /CO molar ratio ranging from 2.27 to 4.74. Synergistic effects from alkali and alkali earth metals (AAEMs), particularly K and Ca, in CR ash enhance syngas yield by catalyzing char gasification and tar cracking. Hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ) and ash from sub-bituminous/bituminous coals are explored as tar reforming catalysts. Fe 2 O 3 achieves 100 % tar reforming efficiency, while coal ash, with a lower Fe 2 O 3 content (15 wt%), is less effective at cracking polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, particularly naphthalene. These findings demonstrate the flexibility of co-gasification, allowing precise tuning of syngas characteristics for specific downstream applications. Further optimization of waste-derived catalysts could enhance the economic viability of gasification in waste-to-energy processes.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗