‘Atomic Scissors’: University of Oxford’s Pollution Solution
Repolywise is a revolutionary technology start-up with a mission to tackle the 330bn kg of plastic that is produced globally each year.
Funded by a US$494,000 grant provided from Innovate UK, researchers from the University of Oxford have produced the plastic-degrading solution, ‘Atomic Scissors’ in hopes to tackle the plastic pollution crisis.
Innovate UK is the UK’s research and innovation agency, assisting companies with:
- Developmental growth
- Product commercialisation
- Processes and services
- Innovation ecosystems
Repolywise was founded to enable the handling of large plastic waste quantities, ranging from kilograms to tonnes through a combined chemical and thermal process.
Dr Bryan Ng, the Founder and CEO of Repolywise explains: “Our Atomic Scissors technology represents a crucial breakthrough in tackling the global plastic waste crisis.
“By transforming hard-to-recycle plastics into valuable raw materials, we're not just reducing waste — we're enabling a circular economy that redefines how we produce and reuse plastics for a sustainable future."
How Atomic Scissor technology works
The process of atomic scissors uses a hydrocracking process to break down waste plastics at the atomic level, providing efficiency and high yielding degradation of plastics.
Repolywise’s technology converts plastic waste into propane, the starting product of plastic through a one step process. This breakdown is conducted by a combination of heat, hydrogen and a catalyst.
Once separated, propane is sold back into the petrochemical industry where it is dehydrogenated or cracked before being reused to make products with Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP)- both high quality materials.
This process helps to reduce plastic waste but also reuse and recycle products, the three key R’s for sustainability.
Scaling for commercial use
The development of the atomic scissor is cutting edge in the world of climate technology, but the role of scaling has provided a challenge.
The current lab is only capable of conducting a two gram batch process. However, thanks to the funding from Innovate UK, the lab is now able to commence the next phase of development and produce two kilograms.
Providing further funding is available, Repolywise plans to reach a commercial-scale capacity of two tonnes in its semi-flow process.
Due to the highly selective methods used, this technological process is able to run on reduced costs compared to other low efficiency and high cost chemical-recycling methods.
Thanks to the grant from Innovate UK, Repolywise is able to carry out the further needed research from the AgileLab at the University of Oxford Begbroke Science Park in hopes to upscale the revolutionary work.
About Innovate UK
As part of the fight against plastic pollution, Innovate UK has invested over US$26m to research teams.
During the efforts to decrease plastic use and waste, researchers will:
- Use plastic mulch films in agriculture, identifying solutions to help remediate contamination – preventing further pollution
- Diagnose the sources and pathways of plastic waste in Indonesia
- Look into coastal plastic pollution in Vietnam, its impact on aquaculture, tourism and local businesses
- Assess the impact plastic has on human health and the environment across the world – determining policy interventions
- Investigate plastic leakage on the Eastern Pacific rim
Professor Sir Duncan Wingham, the Executive Chair of the Natural Environment Research Council is leading the programme due to these facts explained: “Pollution caused by plastic waste is one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges and UKRI is at the forefront of funding research to find solutions.
"This investment of £20m (US$26m) is a vital step in helping world-leading researchers develop realistic and feasible solutions to reduce plastic pollution while enabling equitable, sustainable growth.
"Our investment in international development research aims to positively impact the lives of millions of people across the world and supports global efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals."
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