Life Cycle Assessment of Chemical Upcycling of Postconsumer Polyethylene Terephthalate to Kevlar Polymer.

ABSTRACT: Due to its low cost and chemical stability, poly-(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is widely used in single-use items, such as plastic bottles and packaging materials. The high demand has resulted in a significant amount of discarded PET waste, underscoring the need for effective recycling strategies. One promising approach is PET chemical upcycling, but it requires evaluation of the environmental impact of the entire process, from waste collection to polymer synthesis. This study, for the first time, uses life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of chemical upcycling of postconsumer PET to Kevlar polymer. The study models the life cycle inventory of chemical upcycling via PET ammonolysis and hydrolysis, developing scenarios based on the environmental hotspots of each ch

SUBMITTER: Han J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12606786 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature