ETH Zurich develops method for recycling Plexiglas

Switzerland-based ETH Zurich has developed a groundbreaking method for the near-complete recycling of Plexiglas (PMMA) plastic. The method can break down polymer chains into their monomer building blocks using a chlorinated solvent and UV light, achieving a yield of 94-98%. This process allows the purified monomers to be reused in creating new Plexiglas polymers, significantly impacting the recycling of this versatile material, which has a global annual production of approximately 3.9 million tonnes.