Onderzoekers maken waardevolle chemicaliën uit plastic met zonlicht

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a sunlight-powered process that converts plastic waste and sulfuric acid from old car batteries into valuable industrial chemicals called anilines. These compounds are widely used in pharmaceuticals, dyes, and advanced materials. The method uses a specially designed catalyst and photocatalytic transfer hydrogenation to achieve chemical conversion rates up to 99 percent, eliminating the need for fossil fuel-derived hydrogen gas typically required in conventional manufacturing.