Researchers in the UK have developed a low-energy method to recycle Teflon, turning the durable but toxic plastic into a reusable fluoride.
Teflon is widely used because it resists heat and chemicals. It is found in non-stick cookware, electronics, coatings, and laboratory equipment. However, those same properties make the material extremely difficult to recycle.
Scientists from Newcastle University and the University of Birmingham say the process can break down polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, at room temperature and does not require toxic solvents.
When PTFE-containing products reach the end of their life, they are often sent to a landfill or incinerated. Burning the material can also release pollutants linked to PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” which can persist in the environment for decades.
The research team used mechanochemistry, a technique that uses mechanical force rather than high heat to trigger chemical reactions.
In the experiment, small pieces of sodium metal and Teflon were placed in a sealed steel container known as a ball mill. As the container shakes and grinds the materials together, the mechanical motion breaks the strong carbon-fluorine bonds within the plastic.
“The process we have discovered breaks the strong carbon-fluorine bonds in Teflon, converting it into sodium fluoride, which is used in fluoride toothpastes and added to drinking water,” said Roly Armstrong, lecturer in chemistry at Newcastle University and author of the study.
Because the reaction occurs at room temperature and uses relatively simple materials, Armstrong said their approach could offer a more sustainable way to recover fluorine from waste plastics.
“Our approach is simple, fast, and uses inexpensive materials,” said Xiaodong Lu, a member of the research team.
“We hope it will inspire further work on reusing other kinds of fluorinated waste and help make the production of vital fluorine-containing compounds more sustainable.”
