CNRS chemists have developed a new universal recycling process which can process silicone waste and bring it back to an earlier state within its life cycle.
The method, published in the journal Science, is the first universal method developed which can bring used silicone materials back to a point in which each molecule has only one silicon atom. Additionally, the method requires no raw materials and since it is chemical, versus mechanical, the material can be recycling process can be carried out indefinitely.
In addition to reducing the energy needs and CO2 emission that is prevalent in silicone production, the method also provides direct access to (methyl)chlorosilanes which can be industrially purified to ensure silicone quality during infinite recycling.
With recent increases in demand of key elements and their associated mineral resources such as quartz, this recycling process will open new pathways towards easing tensions that surround quartz resources. Given the high importance of quartz, and the resulting silicon, to the electronics industry, this infinite recycling method could prove invaluable.
The researchers are continuing their research to improve its efficiency and scale it for industry adaptation while also researching methods to recycle other materials to attain a more sustainable future.