Plastic bottles reborn as carbon-capturing BAETA

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a process to turn used plastic bottles into material for capturing carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust. The project addresses two major environmental challenges and could lower energy demands for climate solutions.

The researchers published their results September 4 in Science Advances, showcasing an upcycling technique for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste. This new method creates a substance called BAETA, which can efficiently bind CO₂ through ambient temperature chemical reactions.

How does BAETA transform plastic waste

PET plastics, commonly used in bottles and textiles, are often discarded after use and contribute to pollution in oceans and landfills. The Copenhagen team discovered how to break PET into its basic building blocks and then change these pieces by adding ethylenediamine, a substance that draws in CO₂. The process produces a powdery, pelletizable material ready for practical use.

BAETA’s surface structure becomes primed for binding carbon dioxide, effectively linking two waste streams and giving value to discarded plastics. Unlike traditional recycling, this process handles degraded or colored PET that is usually not recyclable, making it suitable for more types of plastic waste.

Did you know?
BAETA targets low-quality plastic types that cannot be recycled, turning what was once landfill-bound debris into a valuable climate tool.

Why is BAETA efficient for CO₂ capture

BAETA remains highly effective across a wide range of temperatures, from room temperature up to about 150 degrees Celsius. This flexibility allows it to operate at the end of industrial lines, where exhaust gases are typically hot, making installation easier and more energy-efficient than other carbon capture technologies.

The material also supports multiple cycles. Once BAETA becomes saturated with CO₂, heating releases the gas for storage or conversion, while the material itself is primed for reuse. This regeneration maximizes sustainability and reduces ongoing costs.

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Where can BAETA technology be deployed first

Researchers expect BAETA to launch primarily in industrial sectors, starting with plants that need to filter exhaust. Units equipped with BAETA can actively remove carbon dioxide from smoke, making it easier for facilities to reach emissions goals and lower overall pollution.

Testing now aims to scale the technology and convince decision-makers to support real-world adoption. Success at the industrial level could make BAETA a standard feature in emissions control infrastructure worldwide.

What makes PET ocean waste a resource?

BAETA is designed to convert even badly decomposed PET plastic, the type found drifting in oceans or stranded on remote beaches, into useful carbon capture material.

This method transforms ocean cleanups from necessary chores into resource-gathering missions, boosting coastal restoration and providing input for future climate operations.

Turning unusable marine debris into an active agent against climate change could shift global attitudes toward ocean pollution and create new incentives for cleanup ventures.

How can this innovation be scaled globally

The production process for BAETA operates at standard room temperatures and avoids harsh industrial conditions, making scale-up easier. Researchers are working on moving from lab quantities up to industrial tons and are seeking investments for large-scale introduction.

Partnerships with industry and supportive policy are vital for this step, as large-scale carbon capture adoption hinges on collaboration.

As more nations seek integrated solutions for pollution and greenhouse emissions, BAETA offers a unique bridge.

By treating plastic as a raw material in climate work, this innovation could rewrite rules for waste management and emissions policy.

If momentum grows and support follows, BAETA could rapidly become a model for environmental technology that resolves two global challenges at once.