A new study details a method for converting three of the most commonly used plastics into hydrogen, a fuel that has the potential to be a clean and abundant energy source of the future. "Plastic waste is accumulating at alarming rates, and clean hydrogen is essential for decarbonizing energy. When tested on a mix of plastic waste, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), ATT produced hydrogen gas at purities above 90 percent, without any sorting required. To improve their yields, the team pre-treated the PE and PP plastics, heating and oxidizing them. "By combining lower-temperature operation, carbon capture capability, and advantages of mixed plastics, the ATT offers a practical pathway to upcycle plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel," write the researchers in their published paper.