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Robert B Douglas

University of Sheffield
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Optimizing the Chemical Depolymerization of Post-Consumer Polymers

I am a PhD student and a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Sheffield. My research title is: ‘Optimizing the process of chemical depolymerization of polymers via glycolysis’.

This research examines Chemical recycling as a sustainable alternative for the recycling of plastic. Chemical recycling reduces plastics to their basic building block (monomer). This makes plastics infinitely recyclable into high-quality virgin polymers, thus creating a sustainable circular economy.

I had a former career in the building industry before my first degree and training to be an acoustic engineer. This led to studying energy engineering at the University of Sheffield, and then on to my PhD in chemical engineering, where I am currently in my third year.