Electrothermal upcycling of plastic waste

Abstract

Plastic waste presents a dual challenge and opportunity, serving as both an environmental burden and a valuable feedstock for high-value chemicals and monomers. Conventional recycling methods suffer from material degradation and low product value, limiting their economic and environmental viability. Electrothermal upcycling, leveraging Joule heating, microwave-assisted catalysis, induction heating, plasma-based processes, and laser-induced upcycling offer transformative pathways for plastic waste valorization. These techniques offer rapid, selective, and energy-efficient depolymerization while supporting circular economic goals and renewable energy use. This tutorial review systematically examines the fundamental mechanisms, recent advancements, and comparative performances of electrothermal technologies, highlighting their efficiency, sustainability, and potential scalability. We further discuss technoeconomic considerations and life cycle assessments to evaluate their industrial potential. Finally, we identify key challenges and future directions, emphasizing hybrid electrothermal approaches that integrate multiple techniques to enhance conversion efficiency and drive large-scale implementation.