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Could plastic waste be recycled into soap? Virginia Tech chemist finds a way

Two hands wearing purple gloves hold pieces of plastic
Spencer Coppage
/
Virginia Tech
Plastic that can be converted into soaps through a new method of isolating an oil using high heat

Scientists estimate we recycle only nine percent of the plastic that’s produced around the world. A chemistry professor at Virginia Tech has discovered a way to use waste plastic to produce an ingredient that could be used to make soap.

Plastic is costly and difficult to recycle, partly because so much of it is contaminated with food waste and other materials.

Chemist Guoliang “Greg” Liu said there are lots of things plastic could be turned into.

“But the problem that we face right now is often that there’s not enough economic incentive to the industry to recycle them,” Liu said. “So we’re trying to find a way to recycle into something that’s more useful to our daily life.”

He’s been working on a new technique to break down plastic molecules from polyethylene and polypropylene using heat, and isolate an oil. Liu says this oil is nearly identical to an ingredient used in most types of soap. “It’s a molecule that we use every day,” Liu said.

Their technique is similar to another form of plastic recycling, known as advanced recycling. But while most advanced recycling emits pollution, Liu said this method is more environmentally friendly.

“We would like to scale this up in the future,” Liu said. “There’s a huge potential out there.”

Liu is part of a team that published their study in the journal Science. They're hoping to partner with investors and the detergent industry to explore how profitable his method of recycling might be.

Updated: January 9, 2025 at 11:39 AM EST
Editor's Note: Radio IQ is a service of Virginia Tech.
Roxy Todd is Radio IQ's New River Valley Bureau Chief.