H2‐free Plastic Conversion: Converting PET back to BTX by Unlocking Hidden Hydrogen

Abstract The strong desire for a circular economy makes obtaining fuels and chemicals via plastic degradation an important research topic in the 21st century. Here, the first example of the H 2 ‐free polyethylene terephthalate (PET) conversion to BTX (benzene, toluene and xylene) was achieved by unlocking hidden hydrogen in the ethylene glycol part over Ru/Nb 2 O 5 catalyst. Among the whole process (hydrolysis, reforming and hydrogenolysis/decarboxylation), the parallel hydrogenolysis and decarboxylation were competing and the rate‐determining step. Ru/Nb 2 O 5 exhibited superior hydrogenolysis and poorer decarboxylation performance in direct comparison with Ru/NiAl 2 O 4 , accordingly contributing to the distinct selectivity to alkyl aromatics among BTX. Ru species on Nb 2 O 5 , unlike those on NiAl 2 O 4 , showed more Ru δ + species owing to the strong interaction between Ru and Nb 2 O 5 , restricting the undesired decarboxylation. Along with NbO x species for C−O bond activation, excellent reactivity towards the H 2 ‐free conversion of PET back to BTX with alkyl aromatics as dominant species was achieved. This H 2 ‐free system was also capable of converting common real PET plastics back to BTX, adding new options in the circular economy of PET.