1
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Santomasi G, Aquilino R, Brouwer M, De Gisi S, Smeding I, Todaro F, Notarnicola M, Thoden van Velzen EU. Strategies to enhance the circularity of non-bottle PET packaging waste based on a detailed material characterisation. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 186:293-306. [PMID: 38954921 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The compositions of Dutch lightweight packaging waste (LWP) and sorted products named "PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) trays" have been determined on object level. Additionally, the PET trays from both waste types were sorted in 16 categories representing their packaging use and material build-up. The material composition of at least 10 representative trays from each category was determined with chemical and thermal analysis, based on which the average material composition per category was established. Based on this data the average material composition of sorted PET tray products was approximated. The recyclability of the various categories of PET trays was assessed based on their material build-up. The most ubiquitous PET trays in Dutch LWP and sorted products were only found to be suitable to produce opaque recycled PET with mechanical recycling processes. Whereas only some more uncommon PET trays can be used to produce transparent recycled PET with mechanical recycling processes. Depolymerisation is deemed to be a more appropriate recycling process that will allow the production of transparent food-grade recycled PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusy Santomasi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy.
| | - Rosiana Aquilino
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Marieke Brouwer
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sabino De Gisi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Ingeborg Smeding
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Todaro
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Notarnicola
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Eggo U Thoden van Velzen
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
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2
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Anh Nguyen TK, Trần-Phú T, Daiyan R, Minh Chau Ta X, Amal R, Tricoli A. From Plastic Waste to Green Hydrogen and Valuable Chemicals Using Sunlight and Water. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401746. [PMID: 38757221 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Over 79 % of 6.3 billion tonnes of plastics produced from 1950 to 2015 have been disposed in landfills or found their way to the oceans, where they will reside for up to hundreds of years before being decomposed bringing upon significant dangers to our health and ecosystems. Plastic photoreforming offers an appealing alternative by using solar energy and water to transform plastic waste into value-added chemical commodities, while simultaneously producing green hydrogen via the hydrogen evolution reaction. This review aims to provide an overview of the underlying principles of emerging plastic photoreforming technologies, highlight the challenges associated with experimental protocols and performance assessments, discuss recent global breakthroughs on the photoreforming of plastics, and propose perspectives for future research. A critical assessment of current plastic photoreforming studies shows a lack of standardised conditions, hindering comparison amongst photocatalyst performance. Guidelines to establish a more accurate evaluation of materials and systems are proposed, with the aim to facilitate the translation of promising fundamental discovery in photocatalysts design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Kim Anh Nguyen
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Thành Trần-Phú
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Present address: Chemistry and Nanoscience Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Rahman Daiyan
- Particles and Catalysis Research Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Xuan Minh Chau Ta
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Rose Amal
- Particles and Catalysis Research Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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3
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Staplevan MJ, Ansari AJ, Ahmed A, Hai FI. Impact of bioplastic contamination on the mechanical recycling of conventional plastics. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 185:1-9. [PMID: 38815529 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Quality assurance of a recycled product is currently one of the biggest issues that the plastic recycling industry faces. The purity of the input plastic waste stream has significant influence over the quality of the recycled product. This research evaluated the impact of polylactic acid (PLA) contamination within the input waste stream of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) recycling. The ultimate tensile strength was noted to reduce by 50% when PLA contamination was at 10%. An investigation into the effect that UVA radiation (simulating solar radiation) has on HDPE contaminated with PLA was also performed to determine the long-term effect of the bioplastic contamination. After UVA treatment, the ultimate tensile strength was reported to reduce by 51% when PLA contamination was only at 2.5%. A water contact angle analysis indicated the PLA contamination increased the hydrophilic nature of the HDPE sheets, potentially creating issues if the intended use of the recycled product was to store liquids. Microscopic analysis of the HDPE sheets contaminated with PLA showed deformations, ridges, cracks, and holes appear on the surface due to the immiscibility of the two polymers that was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Colour changes were visibly noted, with UVA exposure increasing the rate of colour change. Based on the findings in this study, PLA contamination of even 1% in a HDPE waste stream would significantly reduce the quality of the recycled product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Staplevan
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Ashley J Ansari
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Aziz Ahmed
- School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Faisal I Hai
- Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
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4
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Fang DX, Chen MJ, Zeng FR, Guo SQ, He L, Liu BW, Huang SC, Zhao HB, Wang YZ. Self-evolutionary recycling of flame-retardant polyurethane foam enabled by controllable catalytic cleavage. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024; 11:3585-3594. [PMID: 38742392 DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00039k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Polyurethane (PU) foams, pivotal in modern life, face challenges suh as fire hazards and environmental waste burdens. The current reliance of PU on potentially ecotoxic halogen-/phosphorus-based flame retardants impedes large-scale material recycling. Here, our demonstrated controllable catalytic cracking strategy, using cesium salts, enables self-evolving recycling of flame-retardant PU. The incorporation of cesium citrates facilitates efficient urethane bond cleavage at low temperatures (160 °C), promoting effective recycling, while encouraging pyrolytic rearrangement of isocyanates into char at high temperatures (300 °C) for enhanced PU fire safety. Even in the absence of halogen/phosphorus components, this foam exhibits a substantial increase in ignition time (+258.8%) and a significant reduction in total smoke release (-79%). This flame-retardant foam can be easily recycled into high-quality polyol under mild conditions, 60 °C lower than that for the pure foam. Notably, the trace amounts of cesium gathered in recycled polyols stimulate the regenerated PU to undergo self-evolution, improving both flame-retardancy and mechanical properties. Our controllable catalytic cracking strategy paves the way for the self-evolutionary recycling of high-performance firefighting materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Xuan Fang
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Ming-Jun Chen
- School of Science, Xihua University, Chengdu, 610039, China
| | - Fu-Rong Zeng
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Shuai-Qi Guo
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Lei He
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Bo-Wen Liu
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | | | - Hai-Bo Zhao
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Yu-Zhong Wang
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
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5
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Du M, Xue R, Yuan W, Cheng Y, Cui Z, Dong W, Qiu B. Tandem Integration of Biological and Electrochemical Catalysis for Efficient Polyester Upcycling under Ambient Conditions. NANO LETTERS 2024. [PMID: 39057181 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c02966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Excessive production of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) poses an ecological challenge, which necessitates developing technologies to extract the values from end-of-life PET. Upcycling has proven effective in addressing the low profitability of current recycling strategies, yet existing upcycling technologies operate under energy-intensive conditions. Here we report a cascade strategy to steer the transformation of PET waste into glycolate in an overall yield of 92.6% under ambient conditions. The cascade approach involves setting up a robust hydrolase with 95.6% PET depolymerization into ethylene glycol (EG) monomer within 12 h, followed by an electrochemical process initiated by a CO-tolerant Pd/Ni(OH)2 catalyst to convert the EG intermediate into glycolate with high Faradaic efficiency of 97.5%. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment indicate that, compared with the widely adopted electrochemical technology that heavily relies on alkaline pretreatment for PET depolymerization, our designed enzymatic-electrochemical approach offers a cost-effective and low-carbon pathway to upgrade PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Du
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pesticide Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Rui Xue
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
| | - Wenfang Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pesticide Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yun Cheng
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
| | - Zhongli Cui
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Weiliang Dong
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China
| | - Bocheng Qiu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pesticide Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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6
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Cao J, Liang H, Yang J, Zhu Z, Deng J, Li X, Elimelech M, Lu X. Depolymerization mechanisms and closed-loop assessment in polyester waste recycling. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6266. [PMID: 39048542 PMCID: PMC11269573 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50702-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alcoholysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste to produce monomers, including methanolysis to yield dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and glycolysis to generate bis-2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET), is a promising strategy in PET waste management. Here, we introduce an efficient PET-alcoholysis approach utilizing an oxygen-vacancy (Vo)-rich catalyst under air, achieving space time yield (STY) of 505.2 gDMT·gcat-1·h-1 and 957.1 gBHET·gcat-1·h-1, these results represent 51-fold and 28-fold performance enhancements compared to reactions conducted under N2. In situ spectroscopy, in combination with density functional theory calculations, elucidates the reaction pathways of PET depolymerization. The process involves O2-assisted activation of CH3OH to form CH3OH* and OOH* species at Vo-Zn2+-O-Fe3+ sites, highlighting the critical role of Vo-Zn2+-O-Fe3+ sites in ester bond activation and C-O bond cleavage. Moreover, a life cycle assessment demonstrates the viability of our approach in closed-loop recycling, achieving 56.0% energy savings and 44.5% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions. Notably, utilizing PET textile scrap further leads to 58.4% reduction in initial total operating costs. This research offers a sustainable solution to the challenge of PET waste accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Huaxing Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jie Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Clean Energy, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zhiyang Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jin Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Clean Energy, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle, Germany.
| | - Menachem Elimelech
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Xinglin Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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7
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Lu L, Luo J, Montag M, Diskin-Posner Y, Milstein D. Polyoxymethylene Upcycling into Methanol and Methyl Groups Catalyzed by a Manganese Pincer Complex. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 39046806 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c07468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Polyoxymethylene (POM) is a commonly used engineering thermoplastic, but its recycling by conventional means, i.e., mechanical recycling, is not practiced to any meaningful extent, due to technical limitations. Instead, waste POM is typically incinerated or disposed in landfills, where it becomes a persistent environmental pollutant. An attractive alternative to mechanical recycling is upcycling, namely, the conversion of waste POM into value-added chemicals, but this has received very little attention. Herein, we report the upcycling of POM into useful chemicals through three different reactions, all of which are efficiently catalyzed by a single pincer complex of earth-abundant manganese. One method involves hydrogenation of POM into methanol using H2 gas as the only reagent, whereas another method converts POM into methanol and CO2 through a one-pot process comprising acidolysis followed by Mn-catalyzed disproportionation. The third method utilizes POM as a reagent for the methylation of ketones and amines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Lu
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Jie Luo
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Michael Montag
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yael Diskin-Posner
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - David Milstein
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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8
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Mason AH, Motta A, Kratish Y, Marks TJ. Demystifying group-4 polyolefin hydrogenolysis catalysis. Gaseous propane hydrogenolysis mechanism over the same catalysts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2406133121. [PMID: 39008674 PMCID: PMC11287269 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406133121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
A kinetic/mechanistic investigation of gaseous propane hydrogenolysis over the single-site heterogeneous polyolefin depolymerization catalysts AlS/ZrNp2 and AlS/HfNp2 (AlS = sulfated alumina, Np = neopentyl), is use to probe intrinsic catalyst properties without the complexities introduced by time- and viscosity-dependent polymer medium effects. In a polymer-free automated plug-flow catalytic reactor, propane hydrogenolysis turnover frequencies approach 3,000 h-1 at 150 °C. Both catalysts exhibit approximately linear relationships between rate and [H2] at substoichiometric [H2] with rate law orders of 0.66 ± 0.09 and 0.48 ± 0.07 for Hf and Zr, respectively; at higher [H2], the rates approach zero-order in [H2]. Reaction orders in [C3H8] and [catalyst] are essentially zero-order under all conditions, with the former implying rapid, irreversible alkane binding/activation. This rate law, activation parameter, and DFT energy span analysis support a scenario in which [H2] is pivotal in one of two plausible and competing rate-determining transition states-bimolecular metal-alkyl bond hydrogenolysis vs. unimolecular β-alkyl elimination. The Zr and Hf catalyst activation parameters, ΔH‡ = 16.8 ± 0.2 kcal mol-1 and 18.2 ± 0.6 kcal mol-1, respectively, track the relative turnover frequencies, while ΔS‡ = -19.1 ± 0.8 and -16.7 ± 1.4 cal mol-1 K-1, respectively, imply highly organized transition states. These catalysts maintain activity up to 200 °C, while time-on-stream data indicate multiday activities with an extrapolated turnover number ~92,000 at 150 °C for the Zr catalyst. This methodology is attractive for depolymerization catalyst discovery and process optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H. Mason
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208 3113
- Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208 3113
| | - Alessandro Motta
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma “La Sapienza” and National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, research unit of Roma, RomaI-00185, Italy
| | - Yosi Kratish
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208 3113
- Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208 3113
| | - Tobin J. Marks
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208 3113
- Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208 3113
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9
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Liu Y, Wang L, Zhang Y, Xie J, Li J, Wei J, Zhang M, Yang Y. From Ethylene Glycol to Glycolic Acid: Electrocatalytic Conversion on Pt-Group Metal Surfaces. Inorg Chem 2024. [PMID: 39037615 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c02799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Ethylene glycol (EG) is one of the most attractive platform molecules derived from biomass and waste plastics. Thus, the selective electrooxidation of ethylene glycol (EGOR) into value-added chemicals (especially glycolic acid (GA)) can promote its recycling and upgrading. However, the understanding of the EG-to-GA process on Pt-group metal (PGM) electrodes is far limited now. It has been shown that the Pt and Pd electrodes could show considerable EGOR activity but not Rh and Ir electrodes. Meanwhile, EGOR mainly produces the glycolate, oxalate, and formate on Pt and Pd electrodes, whereas it can obtain minute amounts of glycolate and oxalate on Rh and Ir electrodes. Impressively, the selectivity of glycolate on Pt and Pd electrodes can be over 85% (apparent Faradaic efficiency) in alkaline media, although the stability should be further improved through interfacial tuning and/or engineering. This work might deepen the fundamental understanding of the EGOR process on the nature of PGM electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Juan Xie
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Jiahao Li
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Jincheng Wei
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Yaoyue Yang
- Key Laboratory of General Chemistry of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
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10
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Zou C, Chen J, Khan MA, Si G, Chen C. Stapler Strategies for Upcycling Mixed Plastics. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:19449-19459. [PMID: 38953865 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical recycling is one of the simplest and most economical strategies to address ever-increasing plastic pollution, but it cannot be applied to immiscible mixed plastics and suffers from property deterioration after each cycle. By combining the amphiphilic block copolymer strategy and reactive compatibilization strategy, we designed a series of stapler strategies for compatibilizing/upcycling mixed plastics. First, various functionalized graft copolymers were accessed via different synthetic routes. Subsequently, the addition of a very small amount of stapler molecules induced a synergistic effect with the graft copolymers that improved the compatibility and mechanical properties of mixed plastics. These strategies were highly effective for various binary/ternary plastic systems and can be directly applied to postconsumer waste plastics, which can increase the toughness of mixed postconsumer waste plastics by 162 times. Most importantly, it also effectively improved the impact resistance, adhesion performance, and three-dimensional (3D) printing performance of mixed plastics, and permitted the recycling of plastic blends 20 times with minimal degradation in their mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zou
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jiawei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Muhammad Asadullah Khan
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Guifu Si
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Changle Chen
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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11
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Mobredi K, Miranda-Valdez IY, Mäkinen T, Koivisto J, Alava MJ. A simple approach to produce hydrophobic biobased coatings using methylcellulose and organosolv lignin. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:5607-5615. [PMID: 38976302 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00427b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Substituting plastics with circular and sustainable alternatives has increasingly become a priority. Protective coatings, crucial components in numerous industries, are now in demand for biodegradable options to replace their plastic-based counterparts. Being one of nature's most abundant components, lignin remains underutilized, and this study focuses on investigating its potential for the production of biobased coatings. The method used here involved formulating coating suspensions by mixing methylcellulose and organosolv lignin powders and adding water to the mixture. Glass wafers were coated with the formulated suspensions using spin-coating. The morphology of the coated surfaces was assessed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the wettability of the surfaces was examined through water contact angle experiments, and a numerical model was introduced to predict the water contact angle evolution over time. The results revealed that the sample coated with a 2.5 wt% lignin suspension exhibited the highest initial contact angle (114°), with a decreasing trend as the lignin fraction increases. Moreover, coatings with 3.5 wt% lignin and above exhibited lower surface coverage due to lignin particle aggregation and surface defects. By approximating the water droplet on the surface as a spherical cap, the introduced numerical model successfully predicted the time-dependent evolution of the water contact angle by showing strong alignment with experimental results. Taken altogether, we have showcased here a method for modifying coating properties-in a practical sense from water-absorbent to splash-proof-using readily available forest-based materials. This advancement is paving the way for sustainable protective packaging, aiming to replace styrofoam in the electronics and food industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourosh Mobredi
- Complex Systems and Materials, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15600, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Isaac Y Miranda-Valdez
- Complex Systems and Materials, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15600, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Tero Mäkinen
- Complex Systems and Materials, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15600, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Juha Koivisto
- Complex Systems and Materials, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15600, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Mikko J Alava
- Complex Systems and Materials, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15600, FI-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland.
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12
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Ngom F, Chang A, Blais C, Daiguebonne C, Suffren Y, Camara M, Calvez G, Bernot K, Guillou O. Halogen-Bonds-Based Strategy for the Design of Highly Luminescent Lanthanide Coordination Polymers as Taggants for Plastic Waste Sorting. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:13048-13058. [PMID: 38954824 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Reactions in water between a lanthanide ion and 3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-phthalate lead to a new series of iso-structural coordination polymers with general chemical formula [Ln2(tcpa)3(H2O)6]∞ with Ln = Eu-Yb plus Y. The crystal structure has been solved on the Y-derivative. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n (no. 14) with the following cell parameters: a = 6.2155(2) Å, b = 19.6652(7) Å, c = 30.3720(9) Å, β = 94.631(1)°, V = 3700.22(37) Å3, and Z = 4. Luminescence properties of homo- and heterolanthanide coordination polymers that belong to this structural family have been studied in detail. This study shows that, in this system, intermetallic energy transfers are very efficient and that dilution by an optically non active Gd3+ ion leads to quite efficient luminescent heterolanthanide coordination polymers. The luminescence of these compounds, dispersed at a low doping rate in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix, can be observed even with the naked eye. This study opens the way to the use of such compounds as taggants for optical sorting of plastic waste and consecutive recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fallou Ngom
- Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor, "Laboratoire de Chimie et de Physique des Matériaux", BP 523 Ziguinchor, Sénégal
| | - Aurélien Chang
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS UMR 6226 "Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes", 35708 Rennes, France
| | - Chloé Blais
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS UMR 6226 "Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes", 35708 Rennes, France
| | - Carole Daiguebonne
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS UMR 6226 "Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes", 35708 Rennes, France
| | - Yan Suffren
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS UMR 6226 "Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes", 35708 Rennes, France
| | - Magatte Camara
- Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor, "Laboratoire de Chimie et de Physique des Matériaux", BP 523 Ziguinchor, Sénégal
| | - Guillaume Calvez
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS UMR 6226 "Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes", 35708 Rennes, France
| | - Kevin Bernot
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS UMR 6226 "Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes", 35708 Rennes, France
| | - Olivier Guillou
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS UMR 6226 "Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes", 35708 Rennes, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
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13
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Wang Y, Yan N, Chen Z. Identification of coke species on Fe/USY catalysts used for recycling polyethylene into fuels. RSC Adv 2024; 14:22056-22062. [PMID: 39005255 PMCID: PMC11240219 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra03608e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The Fe/USY catalyst used for converting plastic waste into fuels faces coking problems. A comprehensive understanding of coke distribution and structure is crucial for catalyst design, enabling resistance to coke deposition and facilitating regeneration. In this study, we analyze the coke deposition on Fe/USY catalysts after catalytic pyrolysis of polyethylene for fuel oil, and present insights into the coke distribution over the metal and acid sites, as well as its specific molecular structure. The coke distributes over both the metal and acid sites, exhibiting distinct TPO peaks corresponding to metal-site coke (370 °C) and acid-site coke (520 °C). The total coke yields range from 2.0% to 2.4%, with distribution on metal and acid sites dependent on Fe loading and acidity. Structurally, the coke is highly-condensed, containing more than four aromatic rings with limited alkyl groups. The acid-site coke is more condensed than the metal-site coke, showing lower H/C ratios (0.5-0.75) relative to the acid-site coke (0.75-0.9). Identified by MALDI-TOF mass analysis, the predominant molecular structures of the coke located on metal and acid sites are illustrated. The metal-site cokes typically exhibit 4-7 aromatic rings, while the acid-site cokes display even greater condensation with 5-12 aromatic rings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongli Wang
- Department of Engineering, Huzhou University 759 Erhuan North Road Huzhou 313000 China
| | - Na Yan
- Department of Engineering, Huzhou University 759 Erhuan North Road Huzhou 313000 China
| | - Zezhou Chen
- Department of Engineering, Huzhou University 759 Erhuan North Road Huzhou 313000 China
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14
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Aarsen C, Liguori A, Mattsson R, Sipponen MH, Hakkarainen M. Designed to Degrade: Tailoring Polyesters for Circularity. Chem Rev 2024; 124:8473-8515. [PMID: 38936815 PMCID: PMC11240263 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
A powerful toolbox is needed to turn the linear plastic economy into circular. Development of materials designed for mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and/or biodegradation in targeted end-of-life environment are all necessary puzzle pieces in this process. Polyesters, with reversible ester bonds, are already forerunners in plastic circularity: poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is the most recycled plastic material suitable for mechanical and chemical recycling, while common aliphatic polyesters are biodegradable under favorable conditions, such as industrial compost. However, this circular design needs to be further tailored for different end-of-life options to enable chemical recycling under greener conditions and/or rapid enough biodegradation even under less favorable environmental conditions. Here, we discuss molecular design of the polyester chain targeting enhancement of circularity by incorporation of more easily hydrolyzable ester bonds, additional dynamic bonds, or degradation catalyzing functional groups as part of the polyester chain. The utilization of polyester circularity to design replacement materials for current volume plastics is also reviewed as well as embedment of green catalysts, such as enzymes in biodegradable polyester matrices to facilitate the degradation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine
V. Aarsen
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 58, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Liguori
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 58, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department
of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Rebecca Mattsson
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 58, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mika H. Sipponen
- Department
of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 106
91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Minna Hakkarainen
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 58, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
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15
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Satta A, Ghiotto G, Santinello D, Giangeri G, Bergantino E, Modesti M, Raga R, Treu L, Campanaro S, Zampieri G. Synergistic functional activity of a landfill microbial consortium in a microplastic-enriched environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174696. [PMID: 38997032 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution of the soil is a global issue of increasing concern, with far-reaching impact on the environment and human health. To fully understand the medium- and long-term impact of plastic dispersal in the environment, it is necessary to define its interaction with the residing microbial communities and the biochemical routes of its degradation and metabolization. However, despite recent attention on this problem, research has largely focussed on microbial functional potential, failing to clearly identify collective adaptation strategies of these communities. Our study combines genome-centric metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to characterise soil microbial communities adapting to high polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate concentration. The microbiota were sampled from a landfill subject to decades-old plastic contamination and enriched through prolonged cultivation using these microplastics as the only carbon source. This approach aimed to select the microorganisms that best adapt to these specific substrates. As a result, we obtained simplified communities where multiple plastic metabolization pathways are widespread across abundant and rare microbial taxa. Major differences were found in terms of expression, which on average was higher in planktonic microbes than those firmly adhered to plastic, indicating complementary metabolic roles in potential microplastic assimilation. Moreover, metatranscriptomic patterns indicate a high transcriptional level of numerous genes in emerging taxa characterised by a marked accumulation of genomic variants, supporting the hypothesis that plastic metabolization requires an extensive rewiring in energy metabolism and thus provides a strong selective pressure. Altogether, our results provide an improved characterisation of the impact of microplastics derived from common plastics types on terrestrial microbial communities and suggest biotic responses investing contaminated sites as well as potential biotechnological targets for cooperative plastic upcycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Satta
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ghiotto
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Davide Santinello
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Ginevra Giangeri
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 227, 220, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Michele Modesti
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Via Gradenigo, 6/a, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Roberto Raga
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Treu
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Stefano Campanaro
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Guido Zampieri
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
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16
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Zhang W, Khare R, Kim S, Hale L, Hu W, Yuan C, Sheng Y, Zhang P, Wahl L, Mai J, Yang B, Gutiérrez OY, Ray D, Fulton J, Camaioni DM, Hu J, Wang H, Lee MS, Lercher JA. Active species in chloroaluminate ionic liquids catalyzing low-temperature polyolefin deconstruction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5785. [PMID: 38987244 PMCID: PMC11237162 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49827-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chloroaluminate ionic liquids selectively transform (waste) polyolefins into gasoline-range alkanes through tandem cracking-alkylation at temperatures below 100 °C. Further improvement of this process necessitates a deep understanding of the nature of the catalytically active species and the correlated performance in the catalyzing critical reactions for the tandem polyolefin deconstruction with isoalkanes at low temperatures. Here, we address this requirement by determining the nuclearity of the chloroaluminate ions and their interactions with reaction intermediates, combining in situ 27Al magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, in situ Raman spectroscopy, Al K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy, and catalytic activity measurement. Cracking and alkylation are facilitated by carbenium ions initiated by AlCl3-tert-butyl chloride (TBC) adducts, which are formed by the dissociation of Al2Cl7- in the presence of TBC. The carbenium ions activate the alkane polymer strands and advance the alkylation cycle through multiple hydride transfer reactions. In situ 1H NMR and operando infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that the cracking and alkylation processes occur synchronously; alkenes formed during cracking are rapidly incorporated into the carbenium ion-mediated alkylation cycle. The conclusions are further supported by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations coupled with an enhanced sampling method, and model experiments using n-hexadecane as a feed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, Germany.
| | - Rachit Khare
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, Germany
| | - Sungmin Kim
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Lillian Hale
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Wenda Hu
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Chunlin Yuan
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, Germany
| | - Yaoci Sheng
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, Germany
| | - Peiran Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, Germany
| | - Lennart Wahl
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, Germany
| | - Jiande Mai
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Boda Yang
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Oliver Y Gutiérrez
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Debmalya Ray
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - John Fulton
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Donald M Camaioni
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Jianzhi Hu
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Huamin Wang
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Mal-Soon Lee
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Johannes A Lercher
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, Germany.
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17
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Li A, Wu L, Cui H, Song Y, Zhang X, Li X. Unlocking a Sustainable Future for Plastics: A Chemical-Enzymatic Pathway for Efficient Conversion of Mixed Waste to MHET and Energy-Saving PET Recycling. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202301612. [PMID: 38385577 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The heterogeneous monomers obtained from plastic waste degradation are unfavorable for PET recondensation and high-value derivative synthesis. Herein, we developed an efficient chemical-enzymatic approach to convert mixed plastic wastes into homogeneous mono-2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (MHET) without downstream purification, benefiting from three discovered BHETases (KbEst, KbHyd, and BrevEst) in nature. Towards the mixed plastic waste, integrating the chemical K2CO3-driven glycolysis process with the BHETase depolymerization technique resulted in an MHET yield of up to 98.26 % in 40 h. Remarkably, BrevEst accomplished the highest BHET hydrolysis (~87 % efficiency in 12 h) for yielding analytical-grade MHET compared to seven state-of-the-art PET hydrolases (18 %-40 %). In an investigation combining quantum theoretical computations and experimental validations, we established a MHET-initiated PET repolymerization pathway. This shortcut approach with MHET promises to strengthen the valorization of mixed plastics, offering a substantially more efficient and energy-saving route for PET recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anni Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Luxuan Wu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyang Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibo Song
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiujuan Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
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18
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Ahrens A, Batista GMF, Hammershøj HCD, Schwibinger EV, Nova A, Skrydstrup T. Unveiling the mechanism of triphos-Ru catalysed C-O bond disconnections in polymers. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5656. [PMID: 38969661 PMCID: PMC11226426 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50083-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Ruthenium complexes with facially coordinating tripodal phosphine ligands are privileged catalysts for a broad range of (de-)hydrogenation-based transformations. Among these, C-O bond hydrogenolysis holds potential for the depolymerisation of both the biopolymer lignin and epoxy resins applied in wind turbine blades, aircrafts and more. However, this methodology is poorly understood in mechanistic terms. Here, we present a detailed investigation on the triphos-Ru catalysed C-O bond scission on a molecular level. A combination of experimental, spectroscopical and theoretical studies elucidates the reactivity of the ruthenium trimethylenemethane precatalyst, revealing the key roles of ruthenium phenolates in both catalyst activation as well as the catalytic cycle itself. Furthermore, a Ru(0)/Ru(II) oxidative addition into the C-O bond is disclosed, with a triphos-Ru(0) dihydrogen complex as entry point. With the molecular nature of the operating triphos-Ru species and the thermodynamics and kinetics of the catalysis unravelled, improvements of established methods as well as design of related transformations may become possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ahrens
- Department of Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | | | - Hans Christian D Hammershøj
- Department of Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Emil Vincent Schwibinger
- Department of Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Ainara Nova
- Department of Chemistry, Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular Sciences and Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Troels Skrydstrup
- Department of Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
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19
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Ji L, Meng J, Li C, Wang M, Jiang X. From Polyester Plastics to Diverse Monomers via Low-Energy Upcycling. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2403002. [PMID: 38626364 PMCID: PMC11220695 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202403002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Polyester plastics, constituting over 10% of the total plastic production, are widely used in packaging, fiber, single-use beverage bottles, etc. However, their current depolymerization processes face challenges such as non-broad spectrum recyclability, lack of diversified high-value-added depolymerization products, and crucially high energy consumption. Herein, an efficient strategy is developed for dismantling the compact structure of polyester plastics to achieve diverse monomer recovery. Polyester plastics undergo swelling and decrystallization with a low depolymerization energy barrier via synergistic effects of polyfluorine/hydrogen bonding, which is further demonstrated via density functional theory calculations. The swelling process is elucidated through scanning electron microscopy analysis. Obvious destruction of the crystalline region is demonstrated through X-ray crystal diffractometry curves. PET undergoes different aminolysis efficiently, yielding nine corresponding high-value-added monomers via low-energy upcycling. Furthermore, four types of polyester plastics and five types of blended polyester plastics are closed-loop recycled, affording diverse monomers with exceeding 90% yields. Kilogram-scale depolymerization of real polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste plastics is successfully achieved with a 96% yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process EngineeringSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal UniversityNorth Zhongshan Road 3663Shanghai200062China
| | - Jiaolong Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process EngineeringSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal UniversityNorth Zhongshan Road 3663Shanghai200062China
| | - Chengliang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process EngineeringSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal UniversityNorth Zhongshan Road 3663Shanghai200062China
| | - Ming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process EngineeringSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal UniversityNorth Zhongshan Road 3663Shanghai200062China
| | - Xuefeng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process EngineeringSchool of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal UniversityNorth Zhongshan Road 3663Shanghai200062China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringHenan Normal UniversityXinxiangHenan453007China
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20
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De Felice B, Gazzotti S, Ortenzi MA, Parolini M. Multi-level toxicity assessment of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics on the cladoceran Daphnia magna. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 272:106966. [PMID: 38815345 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The accumulation of plastics waste in the environment has raised a worrisome concern, moving the society to seek out for sustainable solutions, such as the transition from the use of fossil-based, conventional plastics to bioplastics (BPs). However, once in the environment bioplastics have the same probability to accumulate and experience weathering processes than conventional plastics, leading to the formation of microplastics (MPs). However, to date the information on the potential toxicity of MPs originated from the weathering of bioplastics is limited. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the adverse effects induced by the exposure to MPs made of a bioplastic polymer, the polylactic acid (PLA), towards the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia magna. Organisms were exposed for 21 days to three concentrations (0.125 µg/mL, 1.25 µg/mL and 12.5 µg/mL) of PLA microplastics (hereafter PLA-MPs). A multi-level approach was performed to investigate the potential effects through the biological hierarchy, starting from the sub-individual up to the individual level. At the sub-individual level, changes in the oxidative status (i.e., the amount of reactive oxygen species and the activity of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes) and oxidative damage (i.e., lipid peroxidation) were explored. Moreover, the total caloric content as well as the content of protein, carbohydrate and lipid content assess were used to investigate the effects on energy reserves. At individual level the changes in swimming activity (i.e., distance moved and swimming speed) were assessed. Our results showed that the exposure to PLA-MPs induced a slight modulation in the oxidative status and energy reserves, leading to an increase in swimming behavior of treated individuals compared to control conspecifics. These results suggest that the exposure to MPs made of a bioplastic polymer can induce adverse effects similar to those caused by conventional polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice De Felice
- University of Milan, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Stefano Gazzotti
- University of Milan, Laboratory of Materials and Polymers (LaMPo), Department of Chemistry, via Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Aldo Ortenzi
- University of Milan, Laboratory of Materials and Polymers (LaMPo), Department of Chemistry, via Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Parolini
- University of Milan, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan, Italy
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21
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Orr G, Niv Y, Barakat M, Boginya A, Dessau M, Afriat-Jurnou L. Streamlined screening of extracellularly expressed PETase libraries for improved polyethylene terephthalate degradation. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2400021. [PMID: 38987219 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202400021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Enzyme-mediated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) depolymerization has recently emerged as a sustainable solution for PET recycling. Towards an industrial-scale implementation of this technology, various strategies are being explored to enhance PET depolymerization (PETase) activity and improve enzyme stability, expression, and purification processes. Recently, rational engineering of a known PET hydrolase (LCC-leaf compost cutinase) has resulted in the isolation of a variant harboring four-point mutations (LCC-ICCG), presenting increased PETase activity and thermal stability. Here, we revealed the enzyme's natural extracellular expression and used it to efficiently screen error-prone genetic libraries based on LCC-ICCG for enhanced activity toward consumer-grade PET. Following multiple rounds of mutagenesis and screening, we successfully isolated variants that exhibited up to a 60% increase in PETase activity. Among other mutations, the improved variants showed a histidine to tyrosine substitution at position 218, a residue known to be involved in substrate binding and stabilization. Introducing H218Y mutation on the background of LCC-ICCG (named here LCC-ICCG/H218Y) resulted in a similar level of activity improvement. Analysis of the solved structure of LCC-ICCG/H218Y compared to other known PETases featuring different amino acids at the equivalent position suggests that H218Y substitution promotes enhanced PETase activity. The expression and screening processes developed in this study can be further used to optimize additional enzymatic parameters crucial for efficient enzymatic degradation of consumer-grade PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Orr
- Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Yoav Niv
- Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Maya Barakat
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | | | - Moshe Dessau
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Livnat Afriat-Jurnou
- Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee, Israel
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22
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Wang T, Kanda H, Kusumi K, Mei L, Zhang L, Machida H, Norinaga K, Yamamoto T, Sekikawa H, Yasui K, Zhu L. Environmental-friendly extraction of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from poly(vinyl chloride) using liquefied dimethyl ether. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 183:21-31. [PMID: 38714119 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the most widely used plastics. However, a major challenge in recycling PVC is that there is no economical method to separate and remove its toxic phthalate plasticizers. This research made a breakthrough by extracting PVC with liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) and successfully separating the plasticizer components. Nearly all (97.1 %) of the di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate plasticizer was extracted within 30 min by passing liquefied DME (285 g) through PVC at 25 °C. The compatibility of PVC with organic solvents, including liquefied DME, was derived theoretically from their Hansen solubility parameters (HSP), and actual dissolution experiments were conducted to determine the optimal PVC solvents. A liquefied DME mixture was used to dissolve PVC, and the extract was diluted with ethanol to precipitate the dissolved PVC. We demonstrated that liquefied DME is a promising method for producing high quality recycled products and that the process retains the fundamental properties of plasticizers and PVC without inducing degradation or depolymerization. Because of its low boiling point, DME can be easily separated from the solute after extraction, allowing for efficient reuse of the solvent, extracted plasticizer, and PVC. DME does not require heat and produces little harmful wastewater, which significantly reduces the energy consumption of the plasticizer additive separation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Department of Chemical Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Hideki Kanda
- Department of Chemical Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
| | - Kaito Kusumi
- Department of Materials Process Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Li Mei
- Department of Chemical Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Department of Chemical Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Machida
- Department of Chemical Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Koyo Norinaga
- Department of Chemical Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Yamamoto
- Department of Chemical Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sekikawa
- Central Research Laboratories, DIC Corporation, 631, Sakado, Sakura, Chiba 285-8668, Japan
| | - Kengo Yasui
- Central Research Laboratories, DIC Corporation, 631, Sakado, Sakura, Chiba 285-8668, Japan
| | - Li Zhu
- Department of Chemical Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
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23
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Nordahl SL, Scown CD. Recommendations for life-cycle assessment of recyclable plastics in a circular economy. Chem Sci 2024; 15:9397-9407. [PMID: 38939149 PMCID: PMC11206198 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc01340a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Technologies that enable plastic circularity offer a path to reducing waste generation, improving environmental quality, and reducing reliance on fossil feedstocks. However, life-cycle assessment (LCA) methods commonly applied to these systems fall far short of capturing the full suite of advantages and tradeoffs. This perspective highlights inconsistencies in both the research questions and methodological choices across the growing body of LCA literature for plastics recycling. We assert that conducting LCAs on the basis of tonnes of waste managed vs. tonnes of recycled plastics yields results with fundamentally different conclusions; in most cases, analyses of recyclable plastics should focus on the unit of recycled product yielded. We also offer straightforward paths to better approach LCAs for recycling processes and plastics in a circular economy by rethinking study design (metrics, functional unit, system boundaries, counterfactual scenarios), upstream assumptions (waste feedstock variability, pre-processing requirements), and downstream assumptions (closed-loop vs. open-loop systems, material substitution). Specifically, we recommend expanding to metrics beyond greenhouse gases by including fossil carbon balances, net diversion of waste from landfill, and quantity of avoided plastic waste leakage to the environment. Furthermore, we highlight the role that plastic waste plays as a problematic contaminant in preventing greater diversion of all wastes to recycling, energy recovery, and composting, suggesting that plastics may hold a shared responsibility for the system-wide greenhouse gas emissions that occur when mixed wastes are landfilled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Nordahl
- Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Corinne D Scown
- Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute 5885 Hollis Street Emeryville CA 94608 USA
- Biosciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 1 Cyclotron Road Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Energy & Biosciences Institute, University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
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24
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Saleem J, Moghal ZKB, Hafeez A, Sajjad S, Shoaib M, Alahmad J, McKay G. Stretch-Induced Spin-Cast Membranes Based on Semi-Crystalline Polymers for Efficient Microfiltration. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1799. [PMID: 39000655 PMCID: PMC11243820 DOI: 10.3390/polym16131799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Microfiltration membranes derived from semi-crystalline polymers face various challenges when synthesized through the extrusion-casting technique, including the use of large quantities of polymer, long casting times, and the generation of substantial waste. This study focuses on synthesizing these membranes using spin-casting, followed by stretch-induced pore formation. Recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and virgin polyethylene powder, combined with a calcium carbonate filler, were used as the source materials for the membranes. The influence of the polymer-filler ratio with and without stretching on the morphology, tensile strength, and water flow rate was investigated. Optimal conditions were determined, emphasizing a balance between pore structure and mechanical integrity. The permeable membrane exhibited a water flow rate of 19 mL/min, a tensile strength of 32 MPa, and a water contact angle of 126°. These membranes effectively eliminated suspended particles from water, with their performance evaluated against that of commercially available membranes. This research, carried out utilizing the spin-casting technique, outlines a synthesis route for microfiltration membranes tailored to semi-crystalline polymers and their plastic forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Saleem
- Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 5825, Qatar
| | | | - Ahsan Hafeez
- Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Samra Sajjad
- Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Shoaib
- Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Johaina Alahmad
- Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Gordon McKay
- Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 5825, Qatar
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25
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Feng J, Duan J, Hung CT, Zhang Z, Li K, Ai Y, Yang C, Zhao Y, Yu Z, Zhang Y, Wang L, Zhao D, Li W. Micelles Cascade Assembly to Tandem Porous Catalyst for Waste Plastics Upcycling. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202405252. [PMID: 38644634 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Catalytic upcycling of polyolefins into high-value chemicals represents the direction in end-of-life plastics valorization, but poses great challenges. Here, we report the synthesis of a tandem porous catalyst via a micelle cascade assembly strategy for selectively catalytic cracking of polyethylene into olefins at a low temperature. A hierarchically porous silica layer from mesopore to macropore is constructed on the surface of microporous ZSM-5 nanosheets through cascade assembly of dynamic micelles. The outer macropore arrays can adsorb bulky polyolefins quickly by the capillary and hydrophobic effects, enhancing the diffusion and access to active sites. The middle mesopores present a nanoconfinement space, pre-cracking polyolefins into intermediates by weak acid sites, which then transport into zeolites micropores for further cracking by strong Brønsted acid sites. The hierarchically porous and acidic structures, mimicking biomimetic protease catalytic clefts, ideally match the tandem cracking steps of polyolefins, thus suppressing coke formation and facilitating product escape. As a result, light hydrocarbons (C1-C7) are produced with a yield of 443 mmol gZSM-5 -1, where 74.3 % of them are C3-C6 olefins, much superior to ZSM-5 and porous silica catalysts. This tandem porous catalyst exemplifies a superstructure design of catalytic cracking catalysts for industrial and economical upcycling of plastic wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayou Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jindi Duan
- Key Lab of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Chin-Te Hung
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhenghao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Kailin Li
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yan Ai
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Chaochao Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yiyue Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhengmin Yu
- SINOPEC Dalian Research Institute of Petroleum and Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., 116045, Dalian, China
| | - Yahong Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Key Lab of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Dongyuan Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, and iChEM, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
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26
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Anglou E, Chang Y, Bradley W, Sievers C, Boukouvala F. Modeling Mechanochemical Depolymerization of PET in Ball-Mill Reactors Using DEM Simulations. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2024; 12:9003-9017. [PMID: 38903749 PMCID: PMC11187622 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c06081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Developing efficient and sustainable chemical recycling pathways for consumer plastics is critical for mitigating the negative environmental implications associated with their end-of-life management. Mechanochemical depolymerization reactions have recently garnered great attention, as they are recognized as a promising solution for solvent-free transformation of polymers to monomers in the solid state. To this end, physics-based models that accurately describe the phenomena within ball mills are necessary to facilitate the exploration of operating conditions that would lead to optimal performance. Motivated by this, in this paper we develop a mathematical model that couples results from discrete element method (DEM) simulations and experiments to study mechanically-induced depolymerization. The DEM model was calibrated and validated via video experimental data and computer vision algorithms. A systematic study on the influence of the ball-mill operating parameters revealed a direct relationship between the operating conditions of the vibrating milling vessel and the total energy supplied to the system. Moreover, we propose a linear correlation between the high-fidelity DEM simulation results and experimental monomer yield data for poly(ethylene terephthalate) depolymerization, linking mechanical and energetic variables. Finally, we train a reduced-order model to address the high computational cost associated with DEM simulations. The predicted working variables are used as inputs to the proposed mathematical expression which allows for the fast estimation of monomer yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisavet Anglou
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta , Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Yuchen Chang
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta , Georgia 30332, United States
| | - William Bradley
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta , Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Carsten Sievers
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta , Georgia 30332, United States
- Renewable
Bioproducts Institute, Georgia Institute
of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Fani Boukouvala
- School
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta , Georgia 30332, United States
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27
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Shi C, Diment WT, Chen EYX. Closed-Loop Recycling of Mixed Plastics of Polyester and CO 2-Based Polycarbonate to a Single Monomer. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202405083. [PMID: 38837601 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Physical blending is an effective strategy for tailoring polymeric materials to specific application requirements. However, physically blended mixed plastics waste adds additional barriers in mechanical or chemical recycling. This difficulty arises from the intricate requirement for meticulous sorting and separation of the various polymers in the inherent incompatibility of mixed polymers during recycling. To overcome this impediment, this work furthers the emerging single-monomer - multiple-materials approach through the design of a bifunctional monomer that can not only orthogonally polymerize into two different types of polymers - specifically lactone-based polyester and CO2-based polycarbonate - but the resultant polymers and their mixture can also be depolymerized back to the single, original monomer when facilitated by catalysis. Specifically, the lactone/epoxide hybrid bifunctional monomer (BiLO) undergoes ring-opening polymerization through the lactone manifold to produce polyester, PE(BiLO), and is also applied to ring-opening copolymerization with CO2, via the epoxide manifold, to yield polycarbonate, PC(BiLO). Remarkably, a one-pot recycling process of a BiLO-derived PE/PC blend back to the constituent monomer BiLO in >99 % selectivity was achieved with a superbase catalyst at 150 °C, thereby effectively obviating the requirement for sorting and separation typically required for recycling of mixed polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxia Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523-1872, United States
| | - Wilfred T Diment
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523-1872, United States
| | - Eugene Y-X Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523-1872, United States
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28
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Lai PH, Hall SL, Lan YC, Ai JR, Jaberi A, Sheikhi A, Shi R, Vogt BD, Gomez ED. Upcycling plastic waste into fully recyclable composites through cold sintering. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024; 11:2718-2728. [PMID: 38506669 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh01976d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Plastics have substantial societal benefits, but their widespread use has led to a critical waste management challenge. While mechanical recycling dominates the reuse of post-consumer plastics, it is limited in efficacy, especially for composites. To address this, we propose a direct reprocessing approach that enables the creation of hybrid, long-lasting, and durable composites from difficult-to-recycle plastics. This approach utilizes cold sintering, a process that consolidates inorganic powders through fractional dissolution and precipitation at temperatures far below conventional sintering; these temperatures are compatible with plastic processing. We show that this process can create inorganic-matrix composites with significant enhancements in tensile strength and toughness over pure gypsum, which is commonly found in construction waste. These composites can be recycled multiple times through direct reprocessing with the addition of only water as a processing promoter. This approach to recycling leads to composites with orders of magnitude lower energy demand, global warming potential, and water demand, when compared against common construction products. Altogether, we demonstrate the potential for cold sintering to integrate waste into high-performance recyclable composites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Hao Lai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Shelby L Hall
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Yi-Chen Lan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Jia-Ruey Ai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Arian Jaberi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Amir Sheikhi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Rui Shi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Bryan D Vogt
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Enrique D Gomez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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29
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Liu Z. Artificial intelligence assists the synthesis of all-natural plastic substitutes. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:716-717. [PMID: 38548909 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01631-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoming Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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30
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Yang J, Li Z, Xu Q, Liu W, Gao S, Qin P, Chen Z, Wang A. Towards carbon neutrality: Sustainable recycling and upcycling strategies and mechanisms for polyethylene terephthalate via biotic/abiotic pathways. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH 2024; 3:117-130. [PMID: 38638172 PMCID: PMC11021832 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most ubiquitous engineering plastics, presents both environmental challenges and opportunities for carbon neutrality and a circular economy. This review comprehensively addressed the latest developments in biotic and abiotic approaches for PET recycling/upcycling. Biotically, microbial depolymerization of PET, along with the biosynthesis of reclaimed monomers [terephthalic acid (TPA), ethylene glycol (EG)] to value-added products, presents an alternative for managing PET waste and enables CO2 reduction. Abiotically, thermal treatments (i.e., hydrolysis, glycolysis, methanolysis, etc.) and photo/electrocatalysis, enabled by catalysis advances, can depolymerize or convert PET/PET monomers in a more flexible, simple, fast, and controllable manner. Tandem abiotic/biotic catalysis offers great potential for PET upcycling to generate commodity chemicals and alternative materials, ideally at lower energy inputs, greenhouse gas emissions, and costs, compared to virgin polymer fabrication. Remarkably, over 25 types of upgraded PET products (e.g., adipic acid, muconic acid, catechol, vanillin, and glycolic acid, etc.) have been identified, underscoring the potential of PET upcycling in diverse applications. Efforts can be made to develop chemo-catalytic depolymerization of PET, improve microbial depolymerization of PET (e.g., hydrolysis efficiency, enzymatic activity, thermal and pH level stability, etc.), as well as identify new microorganisms or hydrolases capable of degrading PET through computational and machine learning algorithms. Consequently, this review provides a roadmap for advancing PET recycling and upcycling technologies, which hold the potential to shape the future of PET waste management and contribute to the preservation of our ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Yang
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhiling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Qiongying Xu
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wenzong Liu
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Shuhong Gao
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Peiwu Qin
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhenglin Chen
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Aijie Wang
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
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31
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Jabbour CR, Schnabl KB, Yan H, O'Beirn NN, Dorresteijn JM, Meirer F, Mandemaker LDB, Weckhuysen BM. Chitosan as Support Material for Metal-Organic Framework based Catalysts. Chemphyschem 2024:e202400154. [PMID: 38798029 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202400154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Turning waste into valuable products is one of the main challenges of the chemical industry. In this work, chitosan (CS), an abundant, low-cost, and non-toxic biopolymer derived from chitin, was reshaped into beads of ~3 mm. Their suitability as a support material for active phase catalyst materials was tested for a zirconium-based Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) with incorporated Pt, namely UiO-67-Pt. Its incorporation was investigated via two procedures: a one-pot synthesis (OPS) and a post-synthetic functionalization (PSF) synthesis method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show good UiO-67-Pt dispersion throughout the CS beads for the one-pot synthesized material (UiO-67-Pt-OPS@CS). However, this uniform dispersion was not observed for the post-synthetically functionalized material (UiO-67-Pt-PSF@CS). The success of the implementation of UiO-67-Pt was evaluated with ultraviolet-visible and infrared spectroscopy for both composite materials. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reveals higher thermal stabilities for UiO-67-Pt-OPS@CS composite beads in comparison to pure CS beads, but not for UiO-67-Pt-PSF@CS. The study provides valuable insights into the potential of chitosan as a green, bead-shaped support material for MOFs, offering flexibility in their incorporation through different synthesis routes. It further contributes to the broader goal of the sustainable and eco-friendly design of a new generation of catalysts made from waste materials, which will be the topic of future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christia R Jabbour
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kordula B Schnabl
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Haoxiang Yan
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Naoise N O'Beirn
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joren M Dorresteijn
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Florian Meirer
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laurens D B Mandemaker
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bert M Weckhuysen
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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32
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Pal A, Wong AR, Lamb JR. Chemically Recyclable, High Molar Mass Polyoxazolidinones via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:502-507. [PMID: 38625148 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The development of robust methods for the synthesis of chemically recyclable polymers with tunable properties is necessary for the design of next-generation materials. Polyoxazolidinones (POxa), polymers with five-membered urethanes in their backbones, are an attractive target because they are strongly polar and have high thermal stability, but existing step-growth syntheses limit molar masses and methods to chemically recycle POxa to monomer are rare. Herein, we report the synthesis of high molar mass POxa via ring-opening metathesis polymerization of oxazolidinone-fused cyclooctenes. These novel polymers show <5% mass loss up to 382-411 °C and have tunable glass transition temperatures (14-48 °C) controlled by the side chain structure. We demonstrate facile chemical recycling to monomer and repolymerization despite moderately high monomer ring-strain energies, which we hypothesize are facilitated by the conformational restriction introduced by the fused oxazolidinone ring. This method represents the first chain growth synthesis of POxa and provides a versatile platform for the study and application of this emerging subclass of polyurethanes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpan Pal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Allison R Wong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jessica R Lamb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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33
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Dong L, Zhi W, Li W, Li J. Parameters optimization for decontamination and fine physical regeneration pathways of polypropylene plastics from waste lunchboxes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134247. [PMID: 38603912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Due to the development of the food delivery industry, a large amount of waste lunchboxes made of homo polypropylene (PP) plastic have been generated. This study developed a new technological strategy to effectively regenerate PP from waste lunchboxes. Through response surface curve analysis, it was found that under the optimal process conditions of hot alkali washing at 80 ℃, 30 min, and pH 13, the optimal contact angle was 65.55°, indicating a good oil stain removal effect. By identifying and analyzing the characteristics of impurities in waste lunchboxes, a physical sorting and granulation regeneration process was constructed. And through large-scale statistical analysis and data collection, it was further verified that recycled PP plastics maintained their physical stability and excellent processing performance. The quality stability of recycled PP plastics in terms of impurities content was also verified. By designing different formulations specifically, recycled PP was mixed with different virgin PP and antioxidants in appropriate proportions, and extruded into particles under 150-300 mesh filtration conditions to obtain modified recycled PP. Modified recycled PP was applied in textiles, clothing, and injection molded products. In conclusion, we achieve the up-cylcing of waste PP lunchboxes instead of down-cylcing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lipeng Dong
- GER Institute of Polymer Materials Recycling, Yichun, Jiangxi 331100, China; National Engineering Research Center of WEEE Recycling, Jingmen, Hubeiṭ 448124, China.
| | - Wenwu Zhi
- Wenzhou Environmental Development and Urban Solid Waste Comprehensive Disposal Research Center, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
| | - Weijun Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Jiahui Li
- Hunan Provincial Institute of Land and Resources Planning, Changsha, Hunan 410000, China
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34
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Suzuki G, Uchida N, Tanaka K, Higashi O, Takahashi Y, Kuramochi H, Yamaguchi N, Osako M. Global discharge of microplastics from mechanical recycling of plastic waste. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123855. [PMID: 38548151 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The increasing production of plastic products and generation of plastic waste have had increasingly negative environmental impacts. Although recycling could reduce plastic pollution, microplastics can be generated during the process of crushing plastic products during mechanical recycling. We conducted crushing tests with 13 different plastics and documented the size distribution of particles generated. We then estimated the discharge of microplastics associated with recycling and their removal in wastewater treatment plants. We estimated that the global discharge of microplastics would increase from 0.017 Mt in 2000 to 0.749 Mt in 2060. Although mechanical recycling was estimated to account for 3.1% of the total emissions of microplastics for 2017, discharges of microplastics from plastic recycling may increase, even if plastic pollution from well-known sources decreases. Non-OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Asia could be a major discharging region and would play a vital role in reducing discharges of microplastics. Reduction of the discharge of microplastics will require less use of plastic products and upgrading wastewater treatment in many countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go Suzuki
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Natsuyo Uchida
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Kosuke Tanaka
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Osamu Higashi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan; EX Research Institute Ltd., Takada 2-17-22, Toshimaku, Tokyo, 171-0033 Japan
| | - Yusuke Takahashi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Kuramochi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Naohisa Yamaguchi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan; EX Research Institute Ltd., Takada 2-17-22, Toshimaku, Tokyo, 171-0033 Japan
| | - Masahiro Osako
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa 16-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
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35
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Ding Y, Zhang S, Liu C, Shao Y, Pan X, Bao X. CO 2-facilitated upcycling of polyolefin plastics to aromatics at low temperature. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwae097. [PMID: 38660412 PMCID: PMC11042496 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastics are one of the most produced synthetic materials and largest commodities, used in numerous sectors of human life. To upcycle waste plastics into value-added chemicals is a global challenge. Despite significant progress in pyrolysis and hydrocracking, which mainly leads to the formation of pyrolysis oil, catalytic upcycling to value-added aromatics, including benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX), in one step, is still limited by high reaction temperatures (>500°C) and a low yield. We report herein CO2-facilitated upcycling of polyolefins and their plastic products to aromatics below 300°C, enabled by a bifunctional Pt/MnOx-ZSM-5 catalyst. ZSM-5 catalyzes cracking of polyolefins and aromatization, generating hydrogen at the same time, while Pt/MnOx catalyzes the reaction of hydrogen with CO2, consequently driving the reaction towards aromatization. Isotope experiments reveal that 0.2 kg CO2 is consumed per 1.0 kg polyethylene and 90% of the consumed CO2 is incorporated into the aromatic products. Furthermore, this new process yields 0.63 kg aromatics (BTX accounting for 60%), comparing favorably with the conventional pyrolysis or hydrocracking processes, which produce only 0.33 kg aromatics. In this way, both plastic waste and the greenhouse gas CO2 are turned into carbon resources, providing a new strategy for combined waste plastics upcycling and carbon dioxide utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Shuchi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xiulian Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Xinhe Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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36
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Wu Y, Hu Q, Che Y, Niu Z. Opportunities and challenges for plastic depolymerization by biomimetic catalysis. Chem Sci 2024; 15:6200-6217. [PMID: 38699266 PMCID: PMC11062090 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc00070f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic waste has imposed significant burdens on the environment. Chemical recycling allows for repeated regeneration of plastics without deterioration in quality, but often requires harsh reaction conditions, thus being environmentally unfriendly. Enzymatic catalysis offers a promising solution for recycling under mild conditions, but it faces inherent limitations such as poor stability, high cost, and narrow substrate applicability. Biomimetic catalysis may provide a new avenue by combining high enzyme-like activity with the stability of inorganic materials. Biomimetic catalysis has demonstrated great potential in biomass conversion and has recently shown promising progress in plastic degradation. This perspective discusses biomimetic catalysis for plastic degradation from two perspectives: the imitation of the active centers and the imitation of the substrate-binding clefts. Given the chemical similarity between biomass and plastics, relevant work is also included in the discussion to draw inspiration. We conclude this perspective by highlighting the challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable plastic recycling via a biomimetic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Qikun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Yizhen Che
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Zhiqiang Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
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37
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Vogt ETC, Weckhuysen BM. The refinery of the future. Nature 2024; 629:295-306. [PMID: 38720037 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07322-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Fossil fuels-coal, oil and gas-supply most of the world's energy and also form the basis of many products essential for everyday life. Their use is the largest contributor to the carbon dioxide emissions that drive global climate change, prompting joint efforts to find renewable alternatives that might enable a carbon-neutral society by as early as 2050. There are clear paths for renewable electricity to replace fossil-fuel-based energy, but the transport fuels and chemicals produced in oil refineries will still be needed. We can attempt to close the carbon cycle associated with their use by electrifying refinery processes and by changing the raw materials that go into a refinery from fossils fuels to carbon dioxide for making hydrocarbon fuels and to agricultural and municipal waste for making chemicals and polymers. We argue that, with sufficient long-term commitment and support, the science and technology for such a completely fossil-free refinery, delivering the products required after 2050 (less fuels, more chemicals), could be developed. This future refinery will require substantially larger areas and greater mineral resources than is the case at present and critically depends on the capacity to generate large amounts of renewable energy for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eelco T C Vogt
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Bert M Weckhuysen
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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38
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Shaw WJ, Kidder MK, Bare SR, Delferro M, Morris JR, Toma FM, Senanayake SD, Autrey T, Biddinger EJ, Boettcher S, Bowden ME, Britt PF, Brown RC, Bullock RM, Chen JG, Daniel C, Dorhout PK, Efroymson RA, Gaffney KJ, Gagliardi L, Harper AS, Heldebrant DJ, Luca OR, Lyubovsky M, Male JL, Miller DJ, Prozorov T, Rallo R, Rana R, Rioux RM, Sadow AD, Schaidle JA, Schulte LA, Tarpeh WA, Vlachos DG, Vogt BD, Weber RS, Yang JY, Arenholz E, Helms BA, Huang W, Jordahl JL, Karakaya C, Kian KC, Kothandaraman J, Lercher J, Liu P, Malhotra D, Mueller KT, O'Brien CP, Palomino RM, Qi L, Rodriguez JA, Rousseau R, Russell JC, Sarazen ML, Sholl DS, Smith EA, Stevens MB, Surendranath Y, Tassone CJ, Tran B, Tumas W, Walton KS. A US perspective on closing the carbon cycle to defossilize difficult-to-electrify segments of our economy. Nat Rev Chem 2024; 8:376-400. [PMID: 38693313 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00587-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Electrification to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions is essential to mitigate climate change. However, a substantial portion of our manufacturing and transportation infrastructure will be difficult to electrify and/or will continue to use carbon as a key component, including areas in aviation, heavy-duty and marine transportation, and the chemical industry. In this Roadmap, we explore how multidisciplinary approaches will enable us to close the carbon cycle and create a circular economy by defossilizing these difficult-to-electrify areas and those that will continue to need carbon. We discuss two approaches for this: developing carbon alternatives and improving our ability to reuse carbon, enabled by separations. Furthermore, we posit that co-design and use-driven fundamental science are essential to reach aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy J Shaw
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
| | | | - Simon R Bare
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
| | | | | | - Francesca M Toma
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Institute of Functional Materials for Sustainability, Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, Teltow, Brandenburg, Germany.
| | | | - Tom Autrey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Shannon Boettcher
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mark E Bowden
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Robert C Brown
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Jingguang G Chen
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Peter K Dorhout
- Vice President for Research, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Laura Gagliardi
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aaron S Harper
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - David J Heldebrant
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Oana R Luca
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Jonathan L Male
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Robert Rallo
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Rachita Rana
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Robert M Rioux
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Aaron D Sadow
- Ames National Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Lisa A Schulte
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - William A Tarpeh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dionisios G Vlachos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Bryan D Vogt
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Robert S Weber
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Jenny Y Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Elke Arenholz
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Brett A Helms
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Wenyu Huang
- Ames National Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - James L Jordahl
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Kourosh Cyrus Kian
- Independent consultant, Washington DC, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Johannes Lercher
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ping Liu
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA
| | | | - Karl T Mueller
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Casey P O'Brien
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | | | - Long Qi
- Ames National Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Jake C Russell
- Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy, Department of Energy, Washington DC, USA
| | - Michele L Sarazen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Emily A Smith
- Ames National Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Yogesh Surendranath
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Ba Tran
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - William Tumas
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Krista S Walton
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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39
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Gu C, Li C, Minezawa N, Okazaki S, Yamaguchi K, Suzuki K. Multi-stimuli-responsive polymer degradation by polyoxometalate photocatalysis and chloride ions. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:8013-8019. [PMID: 38545655 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00394b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Photocatalytic polymer degradation based on harnessing the abundant light energy present in the environment is one of the promising approaches to address the issue of plastic waste. In this study, we developed a multi-stimuli-responsive photocatalytic polymer degradation system facilitated by the photocatalysis of a polyoxometalate [γ-PV2W10O40]5- in conjunction with chloride ions (Cl-) as harmless and abundant stimuli. The degradation of various polymers was significantly accelerated in the presence of Cl-, which was attributed to the oxidation of Cl- by the polyoxometalate photocatalysis into a highly reactive chlorine radical that can efficiently generate a carbon-centered radical for subsequent polymer degradation. Although organic and organometallic photocatalysts decomposed under the conditions for photocatalytic polymer degradation in the presence of Cl-, [γ-PV2W10O40]5- retained its structure even under these highly oxidative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Gu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Chifeng Li
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Noriyuki Minezawa
- Department of Applied Materials Science, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Susumu Okazaki
- Department of Applied Materials Science, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Kazuya Yamaguchi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kosuke Suzuki
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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40
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Zhang W, Yao H, Khare R, Zhang P, Yang B, Hu W, Ray D, Hu J, Camaioni DM, Wang H, Kim S, Lee MS, Sarazen ML, Chen JG, Lercher JA. Chloride and Hydride Transfer as Keys to Catalytic Upcycling of Polyethylene into Liquid Alkanes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319580. [PMID: 38433092 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Transforming polyolefin waste into liquid alkanes through tandem cracking-alkylation reactions catalyzed by Lewis-acid chlorides offers an efficient route for single-step plastic upcycling. Lewis acids in dichloromethane establish a polar environment that stabilizes carbenium ion intermediates and catalyzes hydride transfer, enabling breaking of polyethylene C-C bonds and forming C-C bonds in alkylation. Here, we show that efficient and selective deconstruction of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to liquid alkanes is achieved with anhydrous aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and gallium chloride (GaCl3). Already at 60 °C, complete LDPE conversion was achieved, while maintaining the selectivity for gasoline-range liquid alkanes over 70 %. AlCl3 showed an exceptional conversion rate of 5000g L D P E m o l c a t - 1 h - 1 ${{{\rm g}}_{{\rm L}{\rm D}{\rm P}{\rm E}}{{\rm \ }{\rm m}{\rm o}{\rm l}}_{{\rm c}{\rm a}{\rm t}}^{-1}{{\rm \ }{\rm h}}^{-1}}$ , surpassing other Lewis acid catalysts by two orders of magnitude. Through kinetic and mechanistic studies, we show that the rates of LDPE conversion do not correlate directly with the intrinsic strength of the Lewis acids or steric constraints that may limit the polymer to access the Lewis acid sites. Instead, the rates for the tandem processes of cracking and alkylation are primarily governed by the rates of initiation of carbenium ions and the subsequent intermolecular hydride transfer. Both jointly control the relative rates of cracking and alkylation, thereby determining the overall conversion and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Hai Yao
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Rachit Khare
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Peiran Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Boda Yang
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
| | - Wenda Hu
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
| | - Debmalya Ray
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
| | - Jianzhi Hu
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164, USA
| | - Donald M Camaioni
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
| | - Huamin Wang
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
| | - Sungmin Kim
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
| | - Mal-Soon Lee
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
| | - Michele L Sarazen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08544, USA
| | - Jingguang G Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, 10027, USA
| | - Johannes A Lercher
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, 99354, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
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41
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O’Dea R, Nandi M, Kroll G, Arnold JR, Korley LTJ, Epps TH. Toward Circular Recycling of Polyurethanes: Depolymerization and Recovery of Isocyanates. JACS AU 2024; 4:1471-1479. [PMID: 38665666 PMCID: PMC11040557 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
We report a depolymerization strategy to nearly quantitatively regenerate isocyanates from thermoplastic and thermoset polyurethanes (PUs) and then resynthesize PUs using the recovered isocyanates. To date, chemical/advanced recycling of PUs has focused primarily on the recovery of polyols and diamines under comparatively harsh conditions (e.g., high pressure and temperature), and the recovery of isocyanates has been difficult. Our approach leverages an organoboron Lewis acid to depolymerize PUs directly to isocyanates under mild conditions (e.g., ∼80 °C in toluene) without the need for phosgene or other harsh reagents, and we show that both laboratory-synthesized and commercially sourced PUs can be depolymerized. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of the recovered isocyanate in the production of second-generation PUs with thermal properties and molecular weights similar to those of the virgin PUs. Overall, this route uniquely provides an opportunity for circularity in PU materials and can add significant value to end-of-life PU products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert
M. O’Dea
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Center
for Plastics Innovation, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Mridula Nandi
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Genevieve Kroll
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Jackie R. Arnold
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - LaShanda T. J. Korley
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Center
for Plastics Innovation, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Thomas H. Epps
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Center
for Plastics Innovation, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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42
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Chen S, Hu YH. Complete Degradation of Polyolefin Plastic Wastes to High-Value Products. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024:e202301449. [PMID: 38647354 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Plastic wastes continuously accumulate, causing critical environmental issues. It is urgent to develop efficient strategies to convert them to valuable products. Very recently, two novel approaches for plastic recycling were reported by Huber et al. (Science, 2023, 381, 660-666) and Liu et al. (Science, 2023, 381, 666-671), where polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plastics were converted into potentially valuable products, such as alcohols, aldehydes, surfactants, and detergents. The two processes achieved complete degradation, high selectivity of target products, as well as high values of products, showing economic feasibility for industrial scale-up. These breakthroughs for plastic recycling are highlighted in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqin Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295, USA
| | - Yun Hang Hu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295, USA
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43
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Chu M, Wang X, Wang X, Xu P, Zhang L, Li S, Feng K, Zhong J, Wang L, Li Y, He L, Cao M, Zhang Q, Chi L, Chen J. Layered Double Hydroxide Derivatives for Polyolefin Upcycling. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:10655-10665. [PMID: 38564662 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
While Ru-catalyzed hydrogenolysis holds significant promise in converting waste polyolefins into value-added alkane fuels, a major constraint is the high cost of noble metal catalysts. In this work, we propose, for the first time, that Co-based catalysts derived from CoAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) are alternatives for efficient polyolefin hydrogenolysis. Leveraging the chemical flexibility of the LDH platform, we reveal that metallic Co species serve as highly efficient active sites for polyolefin hydrogenolysis. Furthermore, we introduced Ni into the Co framework to tackle the issue of restricted hydrogenation ability associated with contiguous Co-Co sites. In-situ analysis indicates that the integration of Ni induces electron transfer and facilitates hydrogen spillover. This dual effect synergistically enhances the hydrogenation/desorption of olefin intermediates, resulting in a significant reduction in the yield of low-value CH4 from 27.1 to 12.6%. Through leveraging the unique properties of LDH, we have developed efficient and cost-effective catalysts for the sustainable recycling and valorization of waste polyolefin materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Chu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Xianpeng Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
- Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, P. R. China
| | - Xuchun Wang
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Panpan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Shengming Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Kun Feng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Jun Zhong
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Lu Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Youyong Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Le He
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Muhan Cao
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Qiao Zhang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
| | - Lifeng Chi
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
- Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, P. R. China
| | - Jinxing Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
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44
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Liu J, Xin K, Zhang T, Wen Y, Li D, Wei R, Zhou J, Cui Z, Dong W, Jiang M. Identification and characterization of a fungal cutinase-like enzyme CpCut1 from Cladosporium sp. P7 for polyurethane degradation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0147723. [PMID: 38445906 PMCID: PMC11022569 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01477-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic degradation by biological systems emerges as a prospective avenue for addressing the pressing global concern of plastic waste accumulation. The intricate chemical compositions and diverse structural facets inherent to polyurethanes (PU) substantially increase the complexity associated with PU waste management. Despite the extensive research endeavors spanning over decades, most known enzymes exhibit a propensity for hydrolyzing waterborne PU dispersion (i.e., the commercial Impranil DLN-SD), with only a limited capacity for the degradation of bulky PU materials. Here, we report a novel cutinase (CpCut1) derived from Cladosporium sp. P7, which demonstrates remarkable efficiency in the degrading of various polyester-PU materials. After 12-h incubation at 55°C, CpCut1 was capable of degrading 40.5% and 20.6% of thermoplastic PU film and post-consumer foam, respectively, while achieving complete depolymerization of Impranil DLN-SD. Further analysis of the degradation intermediates suggested that the activity of CpCut1 primarily targeted the ester bonds within the PU soft segments. The versatile performance of CpCut1 against a spectrum of polyester-PU materials positions it as a promising candidate for the bio-recycling of waste plastics.IMPORTANCEPolyurethane (PU) has a complex chemical composition that frequently incorporates a variety of additives, which poses significant obstacles to biodegradability and recyclability. Recent advances have unveiled microbial degradation and enzymatic depolymerization as promising waste PU disposal strategies. In this study, we identified a gene encoding a cutinase from the PU-degrading fungus Cladosporium sp. P7, which allowed the expression, purification, and characterization of the recombinant enzyme CpCut1. Furthermore, this study identified the products derived from the CpCut1 catalyzed PU degradation and proposed its underlying mechanism. These findings highlight the potential of this newly discovered fungal cutinase as a remarkably efficient tool in the degradation of PU materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Liu
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kaiyuan Xin
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tianyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Wen
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ding Li
- Institute of Veterinary Immunology & Engineering, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Ren Wei
- Junior Research Group Plastic Biodegradation, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jie Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongli Cui
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiliang Dong
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
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45
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Olazabal I, Luna Barrios EJ, De Meester S, Jehanno C, Sardon H. Overcoming the Limitations of Organocatalyzed Glycolysis of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) to Facilitate the Recycling of Complex Waste Under Mild Conditions. ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS 2024; 6:4226-4232. [PMID: 38633816 PMCID: PMC11019730 DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.4c00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Although multiple methods have been reported in the literature for the chemical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), large-scale depolymerization is not yet widely employed. The main reasons for the limited adoption of chemical recycling of PET are the harsh conditions required and the lack of selectivity. In this study, the organocatalytic glycolysis of PET mediated by organic bases at low temperatures is studied, and routes to avoid the deactivation of the catalyst are explored. It is shown that the formation of terephthalic acid by uncontrolled hydrolysis leads to issues which can be resolved using potassium tert-butoxide as a cocatalyst. Finally, complex PET waste obtained from a mechanical recycling plant was depolymerized under optimized conditions, obtaining bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate yields >90% in less than 15 min at only 100 °C. These results open the way to efficient recycling of PET-enriched waste streams under milder conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ion Olazabal
- POLYMAT,
University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Emelin J. Luna Barrios
- POLYMAT,
University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Department
of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent
University, Graaf Karel
De Goedelaan 5, Kortrijk 8500, Belgium
| | - Steven De Meester
- Department
of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent
University, Graaf Karel
De Goedelaan 5, Kortrijk 8500, Belgium
| | - Coralie Jehanno
- POLYMAT,
University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- POLYKEY, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Haritz Sardon
- POLYMAT,
University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
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46
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Normand AT, Wu Y, Régnier T, Fleurat-Lessard P, Rousselin Y, Théron B, Le Gendre P, Carta M. Poly(vinyl chloride) Dechlorination Catalyzed by Zirconium. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202304005. [PMID: 38314958 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202304005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Poly(vinyl chloride) undergoes dechlorination in the presence of triethylsilane (Et3SiH) and a catalytic amount of [Cp2Zr(NPh2)][CH3B(C6F5)3] (1 b) at 40-80 °C, with up to 91 % efficiency. Stoichiometric reactivity studies conducted on cyclohexyl chloride as a model suggest that 1 b dechlorinates PVC by initial chloride abstraction, followed by hydride transfer to the cationic PVC chain from Et3SiH. Consumer items such as pipe fitting, vinyl disc or electric cable insulation undergo either dechlorination or hydrosilylation of the carbonyl-containing copolymer (polyvinyl acetate) or plasticizer (phthalate).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien T Normand
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), 9 avenue Alain Savary, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8 PP, Swansea, Wales
| | - Tiffanie Régnier
- Plateforme d'Analyse de l'Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (PACSMUB), 9 avenue Alain Savary, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Paul Fleurat-Lessard
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), 9 avenue Alain Savary, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Yoann Rousselin
- Plateforme d'Analyse de l'Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (PACSMUB), 9 avenue Alain Savary, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Benjamin Théron
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), 9 avenue Alain Savary, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Pierre Le Gendre
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), 9 avenue Alain Savary, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Mariolino Carta
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8 PP, Swansea, Wales
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47
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Shi C, Quinn EC, Diment WT, Chen EYX. Recyclable and (Bio)degradable Polyesters in a Circular Plastics Economy. Chem Rev 2024; 124:4393-4478. [PMID: 38518259 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Polyesters carrying polar main-chain ester linkages exhibit distinct material properties for diverse applications and thus play an important role in today's plastics economy. It is anticipated that they will play an even greater role in tomorrow's circular plastics economy that focuses on sustainability, thanks to the abundant availability of their biosourced building blocks and the presence of the main-chain ester bonds that can be chemically or biologically cleaved on demand by multiple methods and thus bring about more desired end-of-life plastic waste management options. Because of this potential and promise, there have been intense research activities directed at addressing recycling, upcycling or biodegradation of existing legacy polyesters, designing their biorenewable alternatives, and redesigning future polyesters with intrinsic chemical recyclability and tailored performance that can rival today's commodity plastics that are either petroleum based and/or hard to recycle. This review captures these exciting recent developments and outlines future challenges and opportunities. Case studies on the legacy polyesters, poly(lactic acid), poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene succinate), and poly(butylene-adipate terephthalate), are presented, and emerging chemically recyclable polyesters are comprehensively reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxia Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Ethan C Quinn
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Wilfred T Diment
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Eugene Y-X Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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48
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Plaza MG, Mendoza López ML, Pérez Bueno JDJ, Pérez Meneses J, Maldonado Pérez AX. Polymer Waste Recycling of Injection Molding Purges with Softening for Cutting with Fresnel Solar Collector-A Real Problem Linked to Sustainability and the Circular Economy. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1012. [PMID: 38611270 PMCID: PMC11014222 DOI: 10.3390/polym16071012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
A plastic injection waste known as "purge" cannot be reintegrated into the recycling chain due to its shape, size, and composition. Grinding these cannot be carried out with traditional mills due to significant variations in size and shape. This work proposes a process and the design of a device that operates with solar energy to cut the purges without exceeding the degradation temperature. The size reduction allows reprocessing, revalorization, and handling. The purges are mixtures of processed polymers, so their characterization information is unavailable. Some characterizations were conducted before the design of the process and after the cut of the purges. Some of the most representative purges in a recycling company were evaluated. The flame test determines that all material mixtures retain thermoplasticity. The hardness (Shore D) presented changes in four of the purges being assessed, with results in a range of 59-71 before softening and 60-68 after softening. Young's modulus was analyzed by the impulse excitation technique (IET), which was 2.38-3.95 GPa before softening and 1.7-4.28 after softening. The feasibility of cutting purges at their softening temperature was evaluated. This was achieved in all the purges evaluated at 250-280 °C. FTIR allowed for corroboration of no significant change in the purges after softening. The five types of purges evaluated were polypropylene-ABS, polycarbonate-ABS-polypropylene, yellow nylon 66, acetal, and black nylon 66 with fillers, and all were easily cut at their softening temperature, allowing their manipulation in subsequent process steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma. Guadalupe Plaza
- Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Querétaro, Av. Tecnológico s/n Esq. M. Escobedo Col. Centro, Santiago de Querétaro C.P. 76000, Querétaro, Mexico (J.P.M.)
| | - Maria Luisa Mendoza López
- Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Querétaro, Av. Tecnológico s/n Esq. M. Escobedo Col. Centro, Santiago de Querétaro C.P. 76000, Querétaro, Mexico (J.P.M.)
| | - José de Jesús Pérez Bueno
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, S. C., Parque Tecnológico Querétaro-Sanfandila, Pedro Escobedo C.P. 76703, Querétaro, Mexico;
| | - Joaquín Pérez Meneses
- Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Querétaro, Av. Tecnológico s/n Esq. M. Escobedo Col. Centro, Santiago de Querétaro C.P. 76000, Querétaro, Mexico (J.P.M.)
| | - Alejandra Xochitl Maldonado Pérez
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, S. C., Parque Tecnológico Querétaro-Sanfandila, Pedro Escobedo C.P. 76703, Querétaro, Mexico;
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49
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Kang H, He D, Yan X, Dao B, Williams NB, Elliott GI, Streater D, Nyakuchena J, Huang J, Pan X, Xiao X, Gu J. Cu Promoted the Dynamic Evolution of Ni-Based Catalysts for Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic Upcycling. ACS Catal 2024; 14:5314-5325. [PMID: 38601783 PMCID: PMC11002824 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c05509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Upcycling plastic wastes into value-added chemicals is a promising approach to put end-of-life plastic wastes back into their ecocycle. As one of the polyesters that is used daily, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste is employed here as the model substrate. Herein, a nickel (Ni)-based catalyst was prepared via electrochemically depositing copper (Cu) species on Ni foam (NiCu/NF). The NiCu/NF formed Cu/CuO and Ni/NiO/Ni(OH)2 core-shell structures before electrolysis and reconstructed into NiOOH and CuOOH/Cu(OH)2 active species during the ethylene glycol (EG) oxidation. After oxidation, the Cu and Ni species evolved into more reduced species. An indirect mechanism was identified as the main EG oxidation (EGOR) mechanism. In EGOR, NiCu60s/NF catalyst exhibited an optimal Faradaic efficiency (FE, 95.8%) and yield rate (0.70 mmol cm-2 h-1) for formate production. Also, over 80% FE of formate was achieved when a commercial PET plastic powder hydrolysate was applied. Furthermore, commercial PET plastic water bottle waste was employed as a substrate for electrocatalytic upcycling, and pure terephthalic acid (TPA) was recovered only after 1 h electrolysis. Lastly, density functional theory (DFT) calculation revealed that the key role of Cu was significantly reducing the Gibbs free-energy barrier (ΔG) of EGOR's rate-determining step (RDS), promoting catalysts' dynamic evolution, and facilitating the C-C bond cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Kang
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego
State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - Dong He
- Department
of Physics, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Xingxu Yan
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Benjamin Dao
- Department
of Chemistry, California State University,
Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, United States
| | - Nicholas B. Williams
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego
State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - Gregory I. Elliott
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego
State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
| | - Daniel Streater
- Department
of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, United States
| | - James Nyakuchena
- Department
of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, United States
| | - Jier Huang
- Department
of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, United States
| | - Xiaoqing Pan
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Xiangheng Xiao
- Department
of Physics, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Jing Gu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego
State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182, United States
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50
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Manjunathan J, Pavithra K, Nangan S, Prakash S, Saxena KK, Sharma K, Muzammil K, Verma D, Gnanapragasam JR, Ramasubburayan R, Revathi M. Polyethylene terephthalate waste derived nanomaterials (WDNMs) and its utilization in electrochemical devices. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 353:141541. [PMID: 38423149 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are a vital component of our daily lives in the contemporary globalization period; they are present in all facets of modern life. Because the bulk of synthetic plastics utilized in the market are non-biodegradable by nature, the issues associated with their contamination are unavoidable in an era dominated by polymers. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is extensively used in industries such as automotive, packaging, textile, food, and beverages production represents a major share of these non-biodegradable polymer productions. Given its extensive application across various sectors, PET usage results in a considerable amount of post-consumer waste, majority of which require disposal after a certain period. However, the recycling of polymeric waste materials has emerged as a prominent topic in research, driven by growing environmental consciousness. Numerous studies indicate that products derived from polymeric waste can be converted into a new polymeric resource in diverse sectors, including organic coatings and regenerative medicine. This review aims to consolidate significant scientific literatures on the recycling PET waste for electrochemical device applications. It also highlights the current challenges in scaling up these processes for industrial application.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Manjunathan
- Department of Biotechnology, Vels Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies, Pallavaram, Chennai, 600117, India
| | - K Pavithra
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Vels Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies, Pallavaram, Chennai, 600 117, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Senthilkumar Nangan
- Department of Chemistry, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarkhand, India; Chitkara Centre for Research and Development, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, 174103, India
| | - S Prakash
- Department of Basic Sciences, Institute of Fisheries Post Graduate Studies, Tamilnadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, OMR Campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Kuldeep K Saxena
- Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Kuldeep Sharma
- Centre for Research Impact and Outcomes, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India
| | - Khursheed Muzammil
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mushait Campus, King Khalid University, Abha, 62561, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepak Verma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarkhand, India
| | | | - R Ramasubburayan
- Centre for Marine Research and Conservation, Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, 600 077, Tamilnadu, India.
| | - M Revathi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Vels Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies, Pallavaram, Chennai, 600 117, Tamilnadu, India.
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