This calendar includes all events from the following individual calendars: Department of Chemistry Alumni Events, Department Events (events of general interest and/or relevant to all research areas), and events related to specific research areas and programs (Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Program, Inorganic Chemistry & Materials Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry), as well as Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Seminars & Events.
The accumulation of waste plastics in landfills and the natural environment is now well recognized as a global pollution crisis. Moreover, plastics manufacturing is estimated to account for 20% of fossil carbon consumption by 2050. Among the portfolio of solutions to mitigate the plastics waste problem, catalysis-enabled chemical recycling is a promising approach to enable a circular materials economy for synthetic polymers. This talk will review our recent efforts in biological and chemical catalysis for chemical recycling. Examples of techno-economic and materials flow analyses will also be highlighted as a means to focus research efforts towards realistic process development.