Cambridge University Develops Solar Reactor to Produce Hydrogen from Used Battery Acid and Plastic Waste

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a solar-powered reactor that uses acid recovered from discarded car batteries to break down hard-to-recycle plastic waste—such as beverage bottles, nylon textiles, and polyurethane foam—and convert it into clean hydrogen and valuable industrial chemicals. The technology employs a light-driven catalyst resistant to strong acid corrosion, enabling efficient plastic conversion under solar irradiation. The research team notes that this approach creates a circular system where one waste stream is used to treat another, offering a potentially more economical and sustainable alternative to existing chemical recycling processes. The findings have been published in the journal *Joule*. Globally, over 400 million tons of plastic are produced annually, with only 18% being recycled; the rest is mostly incinerated, landfilled, or released into the environment. This new technology could help alleviate the growing problem of plastic waste accumulation.