Polymer Circularity in Sustainable Energy
- 1st Edition - September 1, 2026
- Latest edition
- Editors: Sabu Thomas, Bruno Ameduri, Jince Thomas, Martin George Thomas
- Language: English
Polymer Circularity in Sustainable Energy offers a comprehensive overview of the recycling and reuse of polymers in specific energy technologies. The book discusses the fundam… Read more
Description
Description
Polymer Circularity in Sustainable Energy offers a comprehensive overview of the recycling and reuse of polymers in specific energy technologies. The book discusses the fundamental aspects of polymer chemistry, global challenges in polymer waste management, regulatory frameworks for polymer recycling, and technological advances in polymer sorting and separation. The initial chapters explore different methods of polymer reuse, including mechanical and chemical recycling, as well as chemical depolymerization for electroactive polymers. Sections then examine the applications of recycled polymers such as polyurethanes, polyvinylidene fluoride, and other polymers in specific energy technologies, including photovoltaics, fuel cells, space energy systems, and battery technologies.
The book also discusses the integration of artificial intelligence in polymer recycling for energy solutions and presents case studies on polymer recycling projects in the energy sector. It further addresses the challenges and opportunities in scaling up polymer recycling infrastructure. It will serve as a valuable reference for researchers and scientists in polymer science and engineering, as well as industry professionals in renewable energy and waste management who are interested on optimizing the use of polymers while minimizing waste generation in the energy industry.
The book also discusses the integration of artificial intelligence in polymer recycling for energy solutions and presents case studies on polymer recycling projects in the energy sector. It further addresses the challenges and opportunities in scaling up polymer recycling infrastructure. It will serve as a valuable reference for researchers and scientists in polymer science and engineering, as well as industry professionals in renewable energy and waste management who are interested on optimizing the use of polymers while minimizing waste generation in the energy industry.
Key features
Key features
- Features several polymer recycling methods, such as mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, pyrolysis, gasification, and depolymerization
- Detailed discussions on the principles, advantages, limitations, and applications of each technique covered
- Discusses how new technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, mechanical milling, and robotics, can revolutionize recycling processes, enhance efficiency, and minimize environmental impacts
- Showcases diverse case studies illustrating successful polymer recycling projects in the energy sector
Readership
Readership
Academics, researchers, and post graduate students and scientists working in the field of polymer science, sustainable energy, and materials science
Table of contents
Table of contents
Section I: Polymer Circularity: Fundamentals, Regulations, and Recycling
1. Fundamentals of Polymer Chemistry
2. Regulatory Frameworks and Policies for Polymer Recycling
3. Advancing Polymer Reuse: Mechanical and Chemical Recycling Methods
4. Control and Circulation of Halogens in the Plastic Resource Circulation
Section II: Polymer Degradation: Deterioration Characteristics and Dynamics
5. SURFACE CHEMISTRY OF POLYMER DEGRADATION
6. “Light Activation for Polymer Circularity”— chapter in “Polymer Circularity in Sustainable Energy”
7. Technological Advances in Polymer Sorting and Separation
8. Degradation, Recycling, and Post- Treatment of Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membranes for Fuel Cells
Section III: Primary Polymers in Circular Economy
9. Circular Management of Single-Use Polyolefins via Hydrocracking with Zeolite-Based Catalysts
10. Chemical recycling of poly(siloxane): is depolymerization to cyclic monomers the only way?
11. Recycled Polyurethanes: Applications in Renewable Energy Technologies
12. Polyvinylidene Fluoride: Recycling and Reuse in Piezo and Triboelectric Technologies
Section IV: Circular Polymer Strategies for Energy Systems
13. Recycling and Reuse of Polymers in Photovoltaic Technologies
14. Recycling and Reuse of Polymers in Fuel Cells
15. Recycling of Polymers in Space Energy Systems
16. Sustainable Soft Bioelectronic Sensors: from Biopolymers and Eutectic Solvents to Eutectogels
17. Polymer Binders in Battery Electrodes: Sustainable Recovery and Recycling Strategies
18. Valorization of lignocellulosic polymers into fermentable sugars for production of biofuels
Section V: Plastic Waste Transformation for Circular Economy
19. Upcycling of Polymer Waste into High-Value Energy Products
20. Strategies for Upcycling PFAS and Aromatic Plastic Waste into High-Performance Materials
21. Feedstock Recycling of Waste Plastics through Pyrolysis Technologies
22. Recycling Fuel Cell Components: Strategies for a Circular Hydrogen Economy
Section VI: Polymer Sustainability: Challenges, Opportunities, and AI
23. Challenges and Opportunities in Scaling up Polymer Recycling Infrastructure
24. Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Renewable Polymers Recycling
1. Fundamentals of Polymer Chemistry
2. Regulatory Frameworks and Policies for Polymer Recycling
3. Advancing Polymer Reuse: Mechanical and Chemical Recycling Methods
4. Control and Circulation of Halogens in the Plastic Resource Circulation
Section II: Polymer Degradation: Deterioration Characteristics and Dynamics
5. SURFACE CHEMISTRY OF POLYMER DEGRADATION
6. “Light Activation for Polymer Circularity”— chapter in “Polymer Circularity in Sustainable Energy”
7. Technological Advances in Polymer Sorting and Separation
8. Degradation, Recycling, and Post- Treatment of Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membranes for Fuel Cells
Section III: Primary Polymers in Circular Economy
9. Circular Management of Single-Use Polyolefins via Hydrocracking with Zeolite-Based Catalysts
10. Chemical recycling of poly(siloxane): is depolymerization to cyclic monomers the only way?
11. Recycled Polyurethanes: Applications in Renewable Energy Technologies
12. Polyvinylidene Fluoride: Recycling and Reuse in Piezo and Triboelectric Technologies
Section IV: Circular Polymer Strategies for Energy Systems
13. Recycling and Reuse of Polymers in Photovoltaic Technologies
14. Recycling and Reuse of Polymers in Fuel Cells
15. Recycling of Polymers in Space Energy Systems
16. Sustainable Soft Bioelectronic Sensors: from Biopolymers and Eutectic Solvents to Eutectogels
17. Polymer Binders in Battery Electrodes: Sustainable Recovery and Recycling Strategies
18. Valorization of lignocellulosic polymers into fermentable sugars for production of biofuels
Section V: Plastic Waste Transformation for Circular Economy
19. Upcycling of Polymer Waste into High-Value Energy Products
20. Strategies for Upcycling PFAS and Aromatic Plastic Waste into High-Performance Materials
21. Feedstock Recycling of Waste Plastics through Pyrolysis Technologies
22. Recycling Fuel Cell Components: Strategies for a Circular Hydrogen Economy
Section VI: Polymer Sustainability: Challenges, Opportunities, and AI
23. Challenges and Opportunities in Scaling up Polymer Recycling Infrastructure
24. Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Renewable Polymers Recycling
Product details
Product details
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: September 1, 2026
- Language: English
About the editors
About the editors
ST
Sabu Thomas
Professor Sabu Thomas is currently an Emeritus Professor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He was the former Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University. He is a Senior Professor of Christ University, Bangalore, India. He is also a visiting Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand and an Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Polymer and Process Engineering, IIT Roorkee, India. He is the Chairman of the TrEST Research Park, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. The H index of Professor Thomas is 162 and he has more than 130,000 citations
Affiliations and expertise
Emeritus Professor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.BA
Bruno Ameduri
Dr Bruno Ameduri leads the “Fluoropolymers and Energy” team at the Polymer Department of the Institute Charles Gerhardt in Montpellier, France. His main interests focus on the synthesis and the characterization of fluorinated monomers, including cure site monomers and telechelics, telomers, and copolymers for various applications such as F-surfactants, elastomers, coatings, and polymers related to energy (fuel cell membranes, polymer gel electrolytes for Li-ions batteries, electroactive materials and PV).
Affiliations and expertise
Emeritus CNRS Research Director, FranceJT
Jince Thomas
Dr. Jince Thomas is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada. He previously served as an Assistant Professor (on contract) at the International and Inter- University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India, where he was later awarded the Chief Minister’s Nava Kerala Postdoctoral Fellowship. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University. Dr. Thomas has contributed to a collaborative Indo- Malaysian research program with Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, and has held visiting research positions at Ariel University in Israel and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA. He is the author and co- author of numerous peer- reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and edited volumes. His research focuses on polymeric membranes,
electrolytes, polymer nanocomposites, and electrochemical energy systems, with a strong focus on computational simulations to support materials design and performance evaluation
Affiliations and expertise
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, CanadaMT
Martin George Thomas
Dr. Martin George Thomas is Assistant Professor at Christ University, Bangalore, India. Dr. Thomas works in the area of recycling and reuse of fluoropolymers being used in membrane applications. Prior to joining the University of Montpellier, he worked as a Research Engineer in Selenis Specialty Polyester Solutions, Italy. Dr. Thomas has completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the area of polymer science and engineering. He earned his PhD in the domain of polymer materials science/physical chemistry at the University of Pau, France, where he focused on marine-based bio-polymer-based materials. During his undergraduate and master programmes, he has undertaken research internships under the supervision of Prof. Manfred Stamm at the Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF Dresden), Germany, and the University of Maastricht under the guidance of Prof. Sanjay Rastogi in the Netherlands, respectively.
Affiliations and expertise
Assistant Professor at Christ University, Bangalore, India