Cambridge team turns plastic into chemicals

May 09, 2026

Researchers from University of Cambridge have introduced an innovative solar-powered technology that transforms discarded plastic waste and used car battery acid into high-value industrial chemicals commonly used in pharmaceuticals, dyes, and plastic manufacturing.

The breakthrough method converts everyday plastic waste, including PET bottles, nylon, and polyurethane, into useful chemical feedstocks that support the production of anilines — a vital group of compounds used across multiple industries. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods, the process eliminates the need for fossil fuel-based hydrogen gas.

Instead, scientists repurposed sulfuric acid recovered from expired lead-acid batteries to break down waste plastics into liquid hydrolyzates. These recycled plastic compounds then supplied the protons and electrons required to power the chemical reaction.

Using sunlight alongside a specially engineered cobalt molybdenum sulfide catalyst, researchers successfully transformed nitroarenes into anilines with conversion yields reaching up to 99%.

Plastic waste transformed into valuable chemicals

Anilines play a critical role in manufacturing pharmaceuticals, industrial dyes, agrochemicals, and advanced polymer materials. Conventional production methods rely heavily on hydrogen generated through steam methane reforming — a carbon-intensive process that operates under extreme heat and pressure.

To create a cleaner alternative, the Cambridge researchers adopted a process called photocatalytic transfer hydrogenation (PTH), which uses light energy to transfer hydrogen between materials.

During the process, post-consumer plastic waste was heated in sulfuric acid for six hours, breaking the plastics down into soluble monomers and alcohols. These compounds later acted as hydrogen donors during the reaction.

The research team then combined the hydrolyzates with nitroarenes and a dual-catalyst system composed of carbon nitride and cobalt molybdenum sulfide (CoMoS2). Carbon nitride captured solar energy, while CoMoS2 enabled the selective chemical conversion.

When exposed to simulated sunlight, the catalyst extracted electrons and protons from the plastic-derived compounds and transferred them directly to nitroarenes, producing anilines without generating separate hydrogen gas.

Sunlight-powered chemistry cuts carbon emissions

The new system successfully converted 24 different nitroarenes into anilines, achieving yields between 83% and 99%. Researchers noted that the reaction remained highly selective, even when other functional groups were present — a common challenge in industrial chemical manufacturing.

The team also discovered that alcohols derived directly from waste plastics consistently delivered yields exceeding 80%. The process remained effective under both simulated sunlight and standard LED lighting conditions.

Beyond improving efficiency, the researchers estimate the technology could reduce carbon emissions by as much as 77% compared to traditional industrial production methods.

The innovation also highlights the potential for a circular manufacturing economy, where discarded plastics and spent battery acid are repurposed into valuable chemical products instead of contributing to environmental pollution.

Unlike many photocatalytic technologies that depend on costly precious metals, this new method uses more abundant and affordable materials while maintaining high performance in acidic environments.