A current process to pyrolyze plastic known as chemical recycling produces oils, gases, and waxes, but the carbon byproduct is nearly useless, Tour says.
Because it cycles at 75 degrees Celsius, polyvinyl chloride vessels are sufficient to replace the expensive metal vessels that are normally required.
To make the material, waste plastic is turned into powder, mixed with potassium acetate and heated at 600 C for 45 minutes to optimize the pores, most of which are about 0.7 nanometers wide.