Recent advances in plastics waste degradation using ionic liquid-based process

Plastics waste are increasing due to the increased production and consumption of plastics worldwide. Plastics those are difficult to decompose naturally complicate its recycle process. There are various methods for degrading plastics waste, including mechanical and chemical. Many catalysts have been used to degrade plastics waste, but they require high temperatures and pressures to operate. Plastics depolymerization efforts face numerous challenges, including operating conditions, product purification processes, corrosion, and pollution issues. Ionic liquids (ILs) are being researched as solvents and catalysts, and both have grown exponentially over the last decade. ILs are currently regarded as "green" solvents due to their unique properties that enable them to degrade plastics under more benign conditions. ILs can also be easily separated from depolymerized product and reused. Plastics waste conventional treatment; types of plastics; types of ILs used as solvents, catalysts, or both in plastics degradation; plastics degradation mechanisms using ILs; and the potential use of ILs in plastics degradation are covered in this review paper.