Chemists Turn Plastic Waste into a High-Performance Carbon Capture Material

Researchers in Denmark have developed a chemical process that converts discarded plastic into a material capable of efficiently capturing carbon dioxide, offering a rare solution that addresses plastic pollution and climate change at the same time. The discovery shows how hard-to-recycle waste can be repurposed into a functional climate technology rather than ending up in landfills or oceans.

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen focused on polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, one of the most common plastics used in bottles, food packaging, and textiles. While PET is technically recyclable, much of it is too degraded, mixed, or contaminated to be reused through conventional recycling systems. This low-quality waste often becomes environmental pollution instead.

 

Turning Low-Value Plastic into a Climate Asset

 

The research team developed a gentle chemical process that breaks down PET into smaller components and then reacts them with ethylenediamine, a compound known for its ability to bind carbon dioxide. This transformation produces a powdery sorbent material called BAETA, which performs on par with many advanced carbon capture materials currently under development.

Rather than competing with traditional recycling, the approach targets plastic streams that recyclers usually reject. According to the researchers, this ensures that high-quality plastics can still be recycled into new products, while degraded PET gains a second life as a climate mitigation tool.

 

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Effective Carbon Capture Under Industrial Conditions

 

BAETA’s performance extends across a wide range of temperatures, from room conditions up to around 150 degrees Celsius. This tolerance is particularly important for industrial applications, where exhaust gases from power plants and factories are often hot. Many existing carbon capture materials lose efficiency under such conditions, limiting their real-world usefulness.

In practical use, BAETA could be installed in units attached to industrial chimneys. As exhaust gases pass through, carbon dioxide binds to the material’s surface. Once saturated, heat can be applied to release the captured CO2, allowing the material to be reused in repeated cycles. The recovered carbon dioxide can then be stored underground or used in industrial applications such as synthetic fuels and chemicals.

 

Designed for Scale and Low Energy Use

 

The synthesis of BAETA stands out for requiring relatively mild conditions. Unlike some carbon capture materials that demand high pressures or extreme heat during production, this process operates at ambient temperatures, reducing energy use and improving the feasibility of large-scale manufacturing.

The researchers have already demonstrated the method beyond laboratory-scale experiments, successfully converting one kilogram of untreated consumer PET waste into BAETA. This early scaling milestone suggests the process could be expanded to industrial volumes, where large quantities of plastic waste could be transformed into carbon capture material.

 

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Ocean Plastic as a Future Resource

 

The team also points to the potential use of ocean plastic as a feedstock. PET that has degraded in marine environments is often unsuitable for recycling but works well with this chemical process. If collected, such waste could become a valuable raw material for climate technologies, creating a financial incentive to clean up marine ecosystems.

By giving plastic waste an economic role in carbon capture, the approach could help shift how governments and companies view environmental cleanup, turning it from a cost into an investment opportunity.

 

From Research to Real-World Deployment

 

The findings, published in Science Advances, outline both the chemistry and the performance of the new material. With proof of concept established, the researchers are now seeking industrial partners to scale production from kilograms to tonnes.

While the technical pathway appears promising, the scientists note that wider adoption will depend on investment and policy support. Carbon capture projects often require significant upfront capital, even when long-term environmental and economic benefits are clear.

By linking two global challenges through a single solution, the research highlights how waste streams can be reimagined as tools for climate action. It suggests a future in which plastic pollution and carbon emissions are not treated as isolated problems, but as interconnected issues that can be tackled together through innovative chemistry.