Interfacial W–O–Zr ensembles in tungstated zirconia catalysts enable efficient hydrogen-free recycling of polypropylene waste

Abstract Polyolefins are essential plastics to modern life yet create mounting sustainability challenges. Chemical recycling technologies are key but often require harsh conditions, costly hydrogen, noble metals, or complex catalysts with challenging design. We report hydrogen- and solvent-free depolymerization of polypropylene consumer goods at 240 °C, achieving >80% yield into gasoline hydrocarbons with stable performance. A library of tungstated zirconia catalysts synthesized by flame spra