Mitsubishi’s microwave technology cuts plastic recycling time by two-thirds

Mitsubishi Electric has unveiled a groundbreaking technology that revolutionises plastic recycling by significantly reducing the time and energy needed for chemical recycling. The new control system for microwave heating promises to cut heating times by two-thirds, improving the efficiency of chemical recycling processes that break plastics down into reusable raw materials.

In Japan, thermal recycling (burning plastic to harness energy) is currently the primary method of plastic waste management. However, the growing focus on the circular economy has spurred interest in alternative recycling methods, such as material and chemical recycling. Material recycling, which repurposes plastic waste, struggles with quality degradation and processing challenges when different materials are mixed. In contrast, chemical recycling breaks plastics down at the molecular level, allowing mixed-materials to be recycled with consistent quality, but it has traditionally required significant electricity and inefficient heating methods.

Mitsubishi Electric’s innovation addresses these issues by focusing microwave energy into specific areas to ensure uniform heating. Unlike conventional systems, which require heating entire reactors inefficiently, this new technology targets only the necessary regions, cutting heating times by up to one-third. Additionally, Mitsubishi has implemented a new structure for the electromagnetic absorption board, which minimises degradation over time without the need for extra materials. This contributes to energy efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint of recycling operations.

The company hopes that the increased efficiency will make chemical recycling more viable, reducing the need for new raw materials and mitigating CO2 emissions from the mining of non-renewable resources. Mitsubishi aims to commercialise this technology by 2030 and is actively seeking partnerships with companies involved in waste treatment and recycling to support its widespread adoption, bringing this technology to market within the decade.