Research Overview

Plastics waste to valuable product

At CPI, we leverage our expertise in catalysis (synthetic, biological), macromolecular science and engineering, additive manufacturing,  data science and artificial intelligence (AI), systems engineering, and computation to address complex challenges in plastics sustainability. We seek to shift the landscape of the plastics life cycle from linear (i.e., “make, use, and dispose”) to circular (i.e., “reuse, redesign, and repair”) via a new frontier of valorization and synthetic approaches.
Our Approach

Thrust 1

Non-Polyolefin Waste

Combines experimental deconstruction strategies with computational analysis to enable efficient valorization of vinyl-based and step-growth polymers.

Thrust 2

Complex Waste

Aims to develop catalysts, strategies, and knowledge for handling complex feedstock compositions and common impurities.

Thrust 3

Circular-By-Design

Leverages current plastics waste as building blocks to realize new, reprocessable materials with little cycle-to-cycle property fade and expanded end-of-life optionality.

CPI’s approach utilizes cross-cutting activities across all research thrusts that are organized into four major themes:

Synergystic Solutions for Complex Problems

Transforming foam with worms

Mealworms possess the microbial power to transform plastics from foam takeout containers and grocery bags into useable precursor chemicals for cosmetics, detergents, and new plastics without intensive chemical processing. By carefully selecting polymer and nutrient sources, highly effective and lower energy processes can be developed. (*initiated by CPI Seed Initiative) PBS: You Oughta Know. (2022) WHYY

Smarter technology discovery

Computer-aided categorization and interpretation of published scientific literature can help researchers find information faster and can facilitate matching plastics waste streams to innovative technology that can obtain a desired product using minimum energy and cost. J. App. Cat. B: Envr. (2022) 121873.

From packaging to lubricants

Using newly developed catalysts, researchers can take common packaging plastics (from detergent bottles or storage containers) and convert them to raw materials for industrial lubricants. Highly specific process design enables targeting of more higher-value products from real waste streams. J. App. Cat. B: Envr. (2021) 299, 120483.; JACS Au. (2021) 1, 1422.

Old plastics to circular materials

With synergistic process design, researchers can break down traditional household plastics (like plastic bags) and add new chemical functionalities that enable the production of plastics that can be degraded and re-formed on demand, reducing the need for new chemicals for circularity.

J. App. Cat. B: Envr. (2022) 121873.