Abstract
The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) has successfully developed a novel method to fully decompose polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, using a combination of electron beam (EB) irradiation and heating. This method achieves 100% decomposition while reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 50% compared to conventional high-temperature pyrolysis techniques.
PTFE and other fluoroplastics are widely used in industries and households due to their exceptional mechanical, chemical, and thermal stability. However, Japan relies entirely on imported raw materials such as fluorspar (CaF₂) and hydrogen fluoride (HF), making resource security a challenge. Additionally, fluoroplastics have a significantly higher life-cycle CO₂ (LCCO₂) footprint than other plastics, raising environmental concerns.
The research team, led by Senior Researcher Dr. Akira Idesaki and Project Leader Dr. Yue Zhao at Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science, investigated the decomposition behavior of PTFE under various conditions. They found that heating PTFE to 370 °C in air and irradiating it with 5 MGy of electron beams resulted in complete decomposition. Energy consumption for processing 1 ton of PTFE was estimated at 2,169 kWh — a 48% reduction compared to the 4,200 kWh required by conventional methods — leading to a CO₂ reduction of approximately 859 kg.
This innovative approach enables the efficient conversion of chemically stable fluoroplastics into reusable organic fluorine compounds, marking a significant technological breakthrough in fluorine resource recycling. Future efforts will focus on scaling up the process and collaborating with industry partners to enhance yield and contribute to plastic resource circulation strategy.
This research was supported by JST CREST (Project No. JPMJCR21L1, PI: Dr. Norio Shibata) and has been published in ACS Omega (June 28, 2025) and Radiation Physics and Chemistry (June 3, 2025).
EurekAlert!
The results were also featured on EurekAlert! on July 24, 2025.
Electron beam irradiation helping to turn plastic waste into gas | EurekAlert!