[자막뉴스] 폐플라스틱 재활용 한계 극복 한국 연구진, 획기적 발견 / YTN

Plastics are used in a variety of ways in our daily lives. However, recycling waste plastics is challenging due to the complex physical sorting process. Conventional methods involve heat treatment at temperatures of 450-600°C, which leaves behind various chemicals and only allows for the utilization of 20-30% of the generated material. In response, a Korean research team has developed a technology that effectively decomposes waste plastics using ultra-high-temperature plasma. This technology utilizes the principle that most hydrocarbons, including plastics, are converted to ethylene, a raw material for plastics, at ultra-high temperatures. [Interview: Song Young-hoon / Director, Waste Organic Materials Basic Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials] This research represents the world's first technology to extract ethylene, a basic raw material, from mixed waste plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene using high-temperature hydrogen plasma exceeding 2,000°C. The plasma torch developed by the research team uses 100% hydrogen. This gas generates ultra-high-temperature energy of 1,000-2,000℃, efficiently decomposing the polymer structure of waste plastic in just 0.01 seconds. The research team explains that this process can produce ethylene and benzene, key raw materials for plastic, at a high yield of 70%. [Lee Dae-hoon / Director of the Nitrogen Resource Strategy Research Group, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials: The technology we've developed this time can convert all types of waste, including gas, oil, and wax, into raw materials, making it highly versatile.] The research team is also conducting research to reduce carbon emissions by utilizing renewable energy for the electrical energy used in the waste plastic decomposition process. The global problem of increasing plastic waste. If this technology is commercialized, it is expected to usher in an era of "recycling without sorting." This is Lim Neul-sol from YTN Science. Video Editing: Hwang Yu-min Screenshot provided by: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials Subtitle News: Park Hae-jin ※ "Your Report Becomes News" [KakaoTalk] Search for "YTN" and add the channel [Phone] 02-398-8585 [Email] [email protected] ▶ Original article: https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0134_202509... ▶ Report: https://mj.ytn.co.kr/mj/mj_write.php ▣ Subscribe to YTN YouTube Channel: http://goo.gl/Ytb5SZ ⓒ YTN. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use of AI data are prohibited.