Recent advances in catalytic conversion technologies for plastic waste upgrading

Based on the concepts of circular economy and “carbon peaking, carbon neutrality”, the upgrading and transformation of plastic waste is receiving increasing attention. In recent years, catalytic conversion technology has become a key method to solve the contradiction between plastic pollution and resource utilization, including but not limited to photocatalysis, thermocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and biocatalysis.

It can not only directly and effectively reduce environmental pollution, but also produce high–value chemicals, fuels from waste resources, thereby alleviating the global energy shortage. Based on this, this review systematically elucidates the direct and indirect pathways for plastic upcycling, and provides an in–depth comparison of the reaction mechanisms, catalyst design strategies, and selective activation rules of chemical bonds across different catalytic approaches.