Scientists have developed sunlight-based photoreforming methods that convert hard-to-recycle plastic waste into hydrogen fuel and industrial chemicals, offering a major step toward cleaner energy and circular waste management.

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• Researchers have developed solar-driven photoreforming technology that converts plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel using light-sensitive photocatalysts and low-temperature chemical reactions.
• The process can break down plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene into hydrogen, syngas, acetic acid, and other useful industrial by-products.
• Scientists at the University of Cambridge created a durable photocatalyst that continued working for more than 260 hours without losing performance in laboratory tests.
• The Cambridge system used acid from old car batteries along with plastic waste to generate hydrogen fuel and valuable chemical outputs.
• Researchers at the University of Adelaide developed another sunlight-powered method that converted waste plastic into hydrogen, syngas, and liquid fuels.
• A metal-free carbon catalyst was also tested successfully on polyethylene and polypropylene, showing the potential for safer and more sustainable fuel production.
• With global plastic production exceeding 400 million tonnes annually, less than one-fifth of plastic waste is currently recycled worldwide.
• Scientists say this technology could support circular upcycling by turning discarded plastic into clean fuel, reducing pollution and lowering reliance on fossil resources.