https://scitechdaily.com/from-plastic-to-pure-water-scientists-turn-trash-into-a-super-catalyst/
From Plastic to Pure Water: Scientists Turn Trash Into a Super Catalyst
Scientists are increasingly turning to sunlight as a powerful ally in cleaning up polluted water. Photocatalysts can harness solar energy to break down harmful contaminants, while photothermal evaporation uses that same energy to rapidly heat and vaporize dirty water, which then condenses into clean, drinkable liquid. Despite their promise, both methods often rely on expensive or difficult-to-manufacture materials that limit their large-scale use. This has sparked a global effort to create a single, affordable, and efficient material capable of performing multiple purification tasks—ideally one made from resources that would otherwise go to waste.
In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech) in Japan have found a way to turn common plastic waste into a powerful new tool for producing clean water.
To create this innovative material, the researchers used a planetary ball mill and carefully optimized the milling process. They began with a simple mixture of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) and polypropylene, a common plastic found in packaging and household goods.
Through precise mechanical processing, they converted this waste-derived mixture into composite particles containing hydrogen molybdenum bronze (Hx* MoO3–y), molybdenum dioxide (MoO2), and activated carbon—materials that work together to capture sunlight and drive multiple purification reactions.*
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/chinese-alchemy-cheap-fuel-powers-coal-to-gas-chemicals-boom-2025-09-04/
Chinese alchemy: Cheap fuel powers coal-to-gas and chemicals boom
- Cheap coal, state support underpin growth in conversion capacity
- Beijing seeks to curb dependence on energy imports
- Coal-to-gas capacity set to more than double
- High carbon emissions weigh against national security concerns
Capacity is growing at the fastest pace in years, underpinned by cheap coal and state support.
The sector last year turned 276 million tons of coal - equivalent to almost a year of European coal use - into chemicals, oil and gas, according to the China National Petroleum and Chemical Planning Institute.
If all planned projects proceed, the industry would roughly double over the next five years, according to Sinolink Securities, with most projects producing synthetic natural gas or liquid fuels.
It hedges the risk of a maritime blockade of energy imports for the world’s biggest importer of oil and liquefied natural gas, while also drawing investment to less-developed regions such as Xinjiang.
In recent years, oil prices north of $70 a barrel and cheap coal have improved the economics, he said. At the same time, conflicts with the U.S. dating back to President Donald Trump’s first term have heightened Beijing’s concern over dependence on energy imports.
Like EVs, the Chinese government is fully behind this break through.