Plastic shopping bags, an abundant source of litter on land
and at sea, can be converted into diesel, natural gas and other useful
petroleum products, researchers report.
The conversion produces significantly more energy than it
requires and results in transportation fuels – diesel, for example – that can
be blended with existing ultra-low-sulfur diesels and biodiesels. Other
products, such as natural gas, naphtha (a solvent), gasoline, waxes and
lubricating oils such as engine oil and hydraulic oil also can be obtained from
shopping bags.