Scientists turn one of the hardest plastics to recycle into high-performance engine lubricant
Researchers have discovered a way to turn notoriously difficult-to-recycle PVC plastic into a key ingredient used in high-performance lubricants such as engine oil. The technique could give mountains of plastic waste a valuable second life while making lubricant production more sustainable.
Virginia Tech researchers have devised a method to convert the notoriously difficult-to-recycle polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into polyalphaolefin (PAO), a crucial component in high-performance lubricants including engine oil. This discovery, reported in Nature, addresses two critical environmental issues simultaneously: the challenge of PVC recycling and the need for sustainable production of industrial lubricants.
PVC poses significant recycling difficulties due to its chlorine content and potential additives, leading to large quantities ending up in landfills. Simultaneously, the demand for lubricants like engine oil remains high, contributing to environmental degradation during production. Transforming discarded PVC into a valuable lubricant ingredient can thus reduce plastic waste while generating a new, beneficial product.
Current lubricants often go unnoticed yet are vital for machinery ranging from lawn mowers to jet engines. Liu's lab has developed a process to repurpose PVC waste as a high-performance lubricant. The process involves immersing PVC in a solvent, adding aluminum trichloride and alpha olefins, and heating the mixture to 158 degrees Fahrenheit for three hours. This yields a thick oil suitable as a lubricant.
Liu's team, including doctoral student Eric Munyaneza Nuwayo, graduate student Connor S. Thompson, and first-year student Abby Civiello, initially attempted to chemically transform PVC molecules into other materials. However, the resulting substances were too soft and ineffective. Liu then innovated by focusing on breaking down PVC into smaller segments, yielding promising results.
Further validation of the new oil's potential came from tests by researchers at Texas A&M University and computational analyses at Caltech. Liu also sought an economic and production analysis from a Virginia Tech colleague. The research team aims to scale up the production process while enhancing its sustainability and availability.
Lubricants, often overlooked, play a crucial silent role in various industries. Liu envisions expanding the production of this new lubricant to benefit more people globally.
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