Systems and methods for plastic waste recycling

A system, comprising:

• a microwave chamber, comprising a catalyst, a microwave inlet, a sample inlet, a gas inlet, and an outlet;
• a microwave generator, configured to generate microwave radiation and deliver the microwave radiation to the microwave chamber via the microwave inlet;
• a sample feeder, comprising a plastic feedstock and configured to deliver the plastic feedstock from to the microwave chamber via the sample inlet;
• a gas delivery device, comprising an inert gas and in gaseous communication with the microwave generator via the gas inlet;
• and
• a condenser, in gaseous communication with the microwave chamber via the outlet and configured to collect a gaseous product produced in the microwave chamber;
• wherein the catalyst is an M1/support catalyst;
• wherein the support catalyst is selected from zeolite, CeO2, ZrO2, and α-Fe2O3;
• and
• wherein M1 is a metal nanoparticle selected from Zr, Ga, Cs, Pt, Pd, Ru, and a combination thereof.