University of Bath Develops Low Temperature UV Method for Infinite Chemical Recycling of Acrylic Plastics

New UV light method from the University of Bath recycles acrylic at low temperatures, enabling infinite reuse of Perspex without losing material quality.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 8:06 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from EurekAlert

A New Frontier for Sustainable Polymer Recovery

A research team at the University of Bath has unveiled a transformative approach to recycling acrylic, a material ubiquitous in automotive components, construction, and digital screens. Led by Dr Jon Husband and Dr Simon Freakley from the Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change, the new method addresses the long standing inefficiency of mechanical recycling. Unlike traditional processes that shred or melt plastic into lower grade pellets, this chemical "unzipping" technique returns the material to its original molecular state, allowing for the creation of pristine, glass like plastic that can be recycled indefinitely without losing clarity or strength.

The Limitations of Current Perspex Processing

The global market consumes approximately 3 million tonnes of polymethyl methacrylate annually, often sold under brand names like Perspex and Plexiglas. While mechanical recycling exists, it frequently results in discoloration and a structural decline that renders the plastic unsuitable for high end applications like spectacles or specialized screens. Industry alternatives have recently turned toward pyrolysis, which involves heating the plastic to between 350 and 400 degrees Celsius. However, Dr Husband notes that these energy intensive methods are often economically unfeasible and prone to contamination, creating an urgent demand for cleaner and more efficient alternatives.

Utilizing UV Light to Unzip Molecular Chains

The breakthrough process developed at Bath utilizes UV light under oxygen free conditions to trigger a chemical breakdown of consumer grade acrylic. By operating at temperatures between 120 and 180 degrees Celsius, the team has effectively bypassed the extreme heat requirements of conventional recycling. This substantial reduction in energy input not only improves the environmental performance of the process but also enhances its potential for commercial scaling. The technique allows the polymer to be disassembled into its constituent monomers, which can then be purified and repolymerised into "as new" materials that match the quality of virgin plastic.