Breakthrough in Room-Temperature Silicone Recycling Technology Published in Science

Keywords: silicone recycling, circular economy, polysiloxane depolymerization, Ga/BCl₃ catalyst

Key Sentence: A global research team developed a Ga/BCl₃ cooperative catalytic system enabling near-room-temperature (40°C) depolymerization of cross-linked silicone waste with >90% yield, a major step toward silicone circular economy. A landmark study published in Science on August 2, 2026, revealed a revolutionary room-temperature silicone recycling technology. Researchers from MIT, Tsinghua University, and Wacker Chemie developed a gallium (Ga) and boron trichloride (BCl₃) synergistic catalytic system that depolymerizes cross-linked silicone waste (rubber, oil, and elastomers) into high-value chlorosilane intermediates at 40°C under atmospheric pressure. The process achieves >90% conversion efficiency, addressing a long-standing industry challenge: silicone’s highly stable cross-linked structure makes traditional recycling energy-intensive and low-yield. This breakthrough enables closed-loop recycling of silicone waste, reducing reliance on virgin quartz raw materials and cutting carbon emissions by 65% compared to conventional production. Commercial pilot plants are scheduled to launch in Germany and China by Q1 2027.