>
Spotlight June 2023: New catalytic process for recovering important materials from composites in a single process
Previously virtually impossible and a huge problem: fibre-reinforced resin composites (epoxides) were not recyclable, and wind turbine rotor blades, for example, add up to a waste pile of 43 million tons by 2050. Researchers have now taken an important first step in “reprocessing” these composites and catalytically dissolving them so that the carbon fibres and resin ingredients can be separated without harming the materials. The process is not limited to rotor blades but can be applied to all composite materials. Particularly, because of the recovery of the expensive carbon fibres, this method is worthy of attention and leads to a better circular economy, thus, to improved sustainability.
Composite materials based on synthetic resins, usually reinforced with carbon fibres, are designed for long durability and are therefore fundamentally difficult to degrade. Until now, they have been stored as waste in landfills and thus removed from the cycle of materials.
Scientists at Aarhus University and the Danish Technological Institute have now filed a patent application for a process that, based on a catalyst containing ruthenium and various solvents, can break down the epoxy matrix and expose the carbon fibres without damaging them. The ingredients bisphenol A and the glass or carbon fibres are recovered and can be reused.
However, ruthenium is a rare and expensive metal, and the efficiency of the process has not yet been scaled-up to industrial level, but it is more than a glimmer of hope on the road to full recovery of the highly stable composites.
Original publication:
Ahrens, A et al. (2023). Catalytic disconnection of C-O bonds in epoxy resins and composites. Nature, 617, 730–737
Weitere Spotlights
Spotlight April 2022: A new risk assessment of nanomaterials in 3D printing is needed
The use of nanomaterials in 3D printing has great potential. Due to the properties of nanoscale materials, many requirements can be implemented in 3D printing. However, these unique properties based on the size of the particles also lead to the need for new risk assessments. This is because if the nanoparticles are released in the […]
Read moreSpotlight July 2022: New definition on nanomaterials published
The European Union has published a new definition for nanomaterials as of June 2022. It is recommended that this be used as a basis for future legislation. The new documents can be found on the EC website. In the new “nanodefinition”, the essential components such as the origin or the size range of the particles […]
Read moreSpotlight August 2022: Three-stage model for the formation of micro- and nanoplastic particles.
Plastic pollution is a global problem that will continue to affect humanity for more than 100 years. There is the visible pollution, e.g. plastic debris in the environment, which leads to death for many animals (because they mistakenly think the plastic is food and eat it or because they get caught in the plastic waste). […]
Read moreSpotlight February 2021: Nanoobjects in the COVID-vaccine – scientifically correct?
The COVID-19 pandemic induces very different reactions of people on the internet (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7002e1.htm) and in the social networks. Without following the conspiracy theories as “5G nanochip hidden in COVID vaccines” some news as “COVID vaccines induce allergic reactions” should be scientifically recognised. The picture from the 5G-nanochip whose plan goes viral on the internet is […]
Read more


