Fossil fuel decarbonization and plastics-waste conversion to hydrogen and high-value carbons: pure science behind two emerging disruptive technologies

Edwards, Peter P., Xiao, Tiancun, Almegren, Hamid A., Yao, Benzhen, Jie, Michael, Slocombe, Daniel R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3590-6075 and Dilworth, Jon R. 2025. Fossil fuel decarbonization and plastics-waste conversion to hydrogen and high-value carbons: pure science behind two emerging disruptive technologies. Jameel, Shahid and Clary, David C., eds. Disruptive Technologies and Muslim Societies, World Scientific, pp. 97-130. (10.1142/9781800616295_0005)

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Abstract

Fossil fuels are renewable only over geological time scales. Their oxidation, via aerial combustion, in considerable amounts since the dawn of the industrial revolution has led to an accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere with an anthropogenic influence on the Earth’s climate. We highlight here our innovations in the catalytic conversion or recycling of CO2 captured from the air together with green or biogenic hydrogen to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Releasing CO2 back to the atmosphere following the combustion of SAFs recreates the natural carbon cycle and promises a net-zero future for aviation. We also highlight fossil fuels as potent, natural sources of sustainable hydrogen; so also, plastics-waste, now seen as an equally attractive anthropogenic source of clean hydrogen. This chapter reviews our advances in the microwaveinitiated catalytic pyrolysis or “hydrogen-stripping” from fossil fuels and plastics-waste. This innovation is a rapid and highly-effective route to clean hydrogen and high-value solid carbon nanomaterials, in many cases accompanied by low- to zero-CO2 emissions. Underpinning these advances are the remarkable physicochemical properties of mesoscale catalyst particles close to the Size-Induced Metal-Insulator Transition.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Engineering
Publisher:	World Scientific
ISBN:	9781800616288
Last Modified:	18 Jun 2025 10:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/179154

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