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Toward sustainable hydrogen and carbon economies through plasma-based recycling

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Abstract

The transition to sustainable hydrogen and carbon economies is essential for addressing critical global issues such as climate change, resource depletion, and waste management. A vital strategy for low-carbon sustainability in the energy and chemical sectors is the chemical conversion of greenhouse gas into fuels and platform chemicals. Effective waste management, including waste-to-energy conversion and recycling, plays a crucial role in reducing emissions and promoting a circular economy. A key aspect of this transition is the development of innovative technologies that can transform waste into valuable resources while minimizing environmental impacts. Plasma-based recycling presents a promising solution, offering remarkable versatility for applications like waste upcycling and greenhouse gas conversion. These processes play a crucial role in advancing the development of sustainable carbon and hydrogen economies.

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Acknowledgements

Chen G kindly thanks CHN Energy Europe Research GmbH for financial support during the plasma-blade industrial project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Guoxing Chen & Anke Weidenkaff

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  1. Guoxing Chen
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  2. Anke Weidenkaff
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Correspondence to Guoxing Chen.

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Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Chen, G., Weidenkaff, A. Toward sustainable hydrogen and carbon economies through plasma-based recycling. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng. 19, 91 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-025-2544-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-025-2544-3