Recent advancements in the chemical recycling and biodegradation of post-consumer polystyrene waste

Abstract

The difficulties of recycling and degrading polystyrene waste result in its end-of-life cycle posing significant threats to humans, organisms, and the environment. To fully achieve environmental protection and green sustainable development goals (SDGs), this review focuses on introducing innovative chemical recycling and biodegradation approaches for polystyrene waste from recent advancements. First, innovative chemical recycling methods such as pyrolysis, chemical structure control, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are introduced. Next, innovative biodegradation approaches including microbial degradation and insect-gut microbiota synergistic degradation are presented. Finally, the advantages and drawbacks of these polystyrene waste treatment methods are systematically summarized, along with future perspectives addressing existing challenges.

Graphical abstract: Recent advancements in the chemical recycling and biodegradation of post-consumer polystyrene waste

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
30 Apr 2025
Accepted
25 Jun 2025
First published
26 Jun 2025

Green Chem., 2025, Advance Article

Recent advancements in the chemical recycling and biodegradation of post-consumer polystyrene waste

H. Lei, Z. Wang, S. Li and M. Zhu, Green Chem., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D5GC02162F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements