1
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Rani A, Negi S, Fan C, Lam SS, Kim H, Pan SY. Revitalizing plastic wastes employing bio-circular-green economy principles for carbon neutrality. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134394. [PMID: 38703690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134394] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
The use of plastics has become deeply ingrained in our society, and there are no indications that its prevalence will decrease in the foreseeable future. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the global plastic waste disposal landscape, examining it through regional perspectives, various management technologies (dumping or landfilling, incineration, and reuse and recycling), and across different sectors including agriculture and food, textile, tourism, and healthcare. Notably, this study compiles the findings on life-cycle carbon footprints associated with various plastic waste management practices as documented in the literature. Employing the bio-circular-green economy model, we advocate for the adoption of streamlined and sustainable approaches to plastic management. Unique management measures are also discussed including the utilization of bioplastics combined with smart and efficient collection processes that facilitate recycling, industrial composting, or anaerobic digestion. Moreover, the integration of advanced recycling methods for conventional plastics with renewable energy, the establishment of plastic tax and credits, and the establishment of extended producer responsibility are reviewed. The success of these initiatives relies on collaboration and support from peers, industries, and consumers, ultimately contributing to informed decision-making and fostering sustainable practices in plastic waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Rani
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Suraj Negi
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chihhao Fan
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia; Center for Global Health Research (CGHR), Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Hyunook Kim
- Water‑Energy Nexus Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, South Korea
| | - Shu-Yuan Pan
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC; Agricultural Net-Zero Carbon Technology and Management Innovation Research Center, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC.
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2
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Weng C, Ding Z, Qiu W, Wang B, Tang X. Achieving Exceptional Thermal and Hydrolytic Resistance in Chemically Circular Polyesters via In-Chain 1,3-Cyclobutane Rings. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401682. [PMID: 38587230 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401682] [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: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Polyesters, a highly promising class of circular polymers for achieving a closed-loop sustainable plastic economy, inherently exhibit material stability defects, especially in thermal and hydrolytic instability. Here, we introduce a class of polyesters, P(4R-BL) (R=Ph, Bu), featuring conformationally rigid 1,3-cyclobutane rings in the backbone. These polyesters not only exhibit superior thermostability (Td,5%=376-380 °C) but also demonstrate exceptional hydrolytic resistance with good integrity even after 1 year in basic and acidic aqueous solutions, distinguishing themselves from typical counterparts. Tailoring the flexibility of the side group R enables the controlled thermal and mechanical performance of P(4Ph-BL) and P(4Bu-BL) to rival durable syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), respectively. Significantly, despite their high stability, both polyesters can be effectively depolymerized into pristine monomers, establishing a circular life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Weng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zhiqiang Ding
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite & Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Weijie Qiu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite & Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xiaoyan Tang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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3
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Hughes RW, Marquez JD, Young JB, Garrison JB, Zastrow IS, Evans AM, Sumerlin BS. Selective Electrochemical Modification and Degradation of Polymers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202403026. [PMID: 38416815 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403026] [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: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
We demonstrate that electrochemical-induced decarboxylation enables reliable post-polymerization modification and degradation of polymers. Polymers containing N-(acryloxy)phthalimides were subjected to electrochemical decarboxylation under mild conditions, which led to the formation of transient alkyl radicals. By installing these redox-active units, we systematically modified the pendent groups and chain ends of polyacrylates. This approach enabled the production of poly(ethylene-co-methyl acrylate) and poly(propylene-co-methyl acrylate) copolymers, which are difficult to synthesize by direct polymerization. Spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques reveal these transformations are near-quantitative on several polymer systems. Electrochemical decarboxylation also enables the degradation of all-methacrylate poly(N-(methacryloxy)phthalimide-co-methyl methacrylate) copolymers with a degradation efficiency of >95 %. Chain cleavage is achieved through the decarboxylation of the N-hydroxyphthalimide ester and subsequent β-scission of the backbone radical. Electrochemistry is thus shown to be a powerful tool in selective polymer transformations and controlled macromolecular degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhys W Hughes
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Joshua D Marquez
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - James B Young
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - John B Garrison
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Isabella S Zastrow
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Austin M Evans
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Brent S Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
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4
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Jha RK, Neyhouse BJ, Young MS, Fagnani DE, McNeil AJ. Revisiting poly(vinyl chloride) reactivity in the context of chemical recycling. Chem Sci 2024; 15:5802-5813. [PMID: 38665509 PMCID: PMC11041365 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06758k] [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: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the highest production volume polymers due to its many applications, and it is one of the least recycled due to its chemical structure and frequent formulation with additives. Developing efficient PVC recycling techniques would enable PVC waste to be reused or repurposed in other processes. Within this context, the literature on PVC modification offers considerable insight into versatile reaction pathways, potentially inspiring new approaches for repurposing PVC waste into value-added products. This perspective provides an overview of PVC functionalization through a lens of chemical recycling, discussing various PVC reactivity trends and their applications with a critical assessment and future outlook of their recycling implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kant Jha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan 930 North University Avenue Ann Arbor Michigan 48108-1055 USA
| | - Bertrand J Neyhouse
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan 930 North University Avenue Ann Arbor Michigan 48108-1055 USA
| | - Morgan S Young
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan 930 North University Avenue Ann Arbor Michigan 48108-1055 USA
| | - Danielle E Fagnani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan 930 North University Avenue Ann Arbor Michigan 48108-1055 USA
| | - Anne J McNeil
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan 930 North University Avenue Ann Arbor Michigan 48108-1055 USA
- Macromolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of Michigan 2300 Hayward Street Ann Arbor Michigan 48109-2800 USA
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5
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Shi C, Rorrer NA, Shaw AL, Clarke RW, Buss BL, Beckham GT, Broadbelt LJ, Chen EYX. Topology-Accelerated and Selective Cascade Depolymerization of Architecturally Complex Polyesters. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:9261-9271. [PMID: 38517949 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00526] [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
Despite considerable recent advances already made in developing chemically circular polymers (CPs), the current framework predominantly focuses on CPs with linear-chain structures of different monomer types. As polymer properties are determined by not only composition but also topology, manipulating the topology of the single-monomer-based CP systems from linear-chain structures to architecturally complex polymers could potentially modulate the resulting polymer properties without changing the chemical composition, thereby advancing the concept of monomaterial product design. To that end, here, we introduce a chemically circular hyperbranched polyester (HBPE), synthesized by a mixed chain-growth and step-growth polymerization of a rationally designed bicyclic lactone with a pendent hydroxyl group (BiLOH). This HBPE exhibits full chemical recyclability despite its architectural complexity, showing quantitative selectivity for regeneration of BiLOH, via a unique cascade depolymerization mechanism. Moreover, distinct differences in materials properties and performance arising from topological variations between HBPE, hb-PBiLOH, and its linear analogue, l-PBiLOH, have been revealed where generally the branched structure led to more favorable interchain interactions, and topology-amplified optical activity has also been observed for chiral (1S, 4S, 5S)-hb-PBiLOH. More intriguingly, depolymerization of l-PBiLOH proceeds through an unexpected, initial topological transformation to the HBPE polymer, followed by the faster cascade depolymerization pathway adopted by hb-PBiLOH. Overall, these results demonstrate that CP design can go beyond typical linear polymers, and rationally redesigned, architecturally complex polymers for their unique properties may synergistically impart advantages in topology-augmented depolymerization acceleration and selectivity for exclusive monomer regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxia Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1872, United States
| | - Nicholas A Rorrer
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Alexander L Shaw
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Ryan W Clarke
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Bonnie L Buss
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Gregg T Beckham
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Linda J Broadbelt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Eugene Y-X Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1872, United States
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6
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Deng Y, Zhang Q, Feringa BL. Dynamic Chemistry Toolbox for Advanced Sustainable Materials. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308666. [PMID: 38321810 PMCID: PMC11005721 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Developing dynamic chemistry for polymeric materials offers chemical solutions to solve key problems associated with current plastics. Mechanical performance and dynamic function are equally important in material design because the former determines the application scope and the latter enables chemical recycling and hence sustainability. However, it is a long-term challenge to balance the subtle trade-off between mechanical robustness and dynamic properties in a single material. The rise of dynamic chemistry, including supramolecular and dynamic covalent chemistry, provides many opportunities and versatile molecular tools for designing constitutionally dynamic materials that can adapt, repair, and recycle. Facing the growing social need for developing advanced sustainable materials without compromising properties, recent progress showing how the toolbox of dynamic chemistry can be explored to enable high-performance sustainable materials by molecular engineering strategies is discussed here. The state of the art and recent milestones are summarized and discussed, followed by an outlook toward future opportunities and challenges present in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxin Deng
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research CenterSchool of Chemistry and Technology130 Meilong RoadShanghai200237China
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry and Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsFaculty of Science and EngineeringUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 4Groningen9747 AGThe Netherlands
| | - Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research CenterSchool of Chemistry and Technology130 Meilong RoadShanghai200237China
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry and Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsFaculty of Science and EngineeringUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 4Groningen9747 AGThe Netherlands
| | - Ben L. Feringa
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research CenterSchool of Chemistry and Technology130 Meilong RoadShanghai200237China
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry and Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsFaculty of Science and EngineeringUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 4Groningen9747 AGThe Netherlands
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7
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Mountaki SA, Whitfield R, Parkatzidis K, Antonopoulou MN, Truong NP, Anastasaki A. Chemical recycling of bromine-terminated polymers synthesized by ATRP. RSC APPLIED POLYMERS 2024; 2:275-283. [PMID: 38525379 PMCID: PMC10955525 DOI: 10.1039/d3lp00279a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Chemical recycling of polymers is one of the biggest challenges in materials science. Recently, remarkable achievements have been made by utilizing polymers prepared by controlled radical polymerization to trigger low-temperature depolymerization. However, in the case of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), depolymerization has nearly exclusively focused on chlorine-terminated polymers, even though the overwhelming majority of polymeric materials synthesized with this method possess a bromine end-group. Herein, we report an efficient depolymerization strategy for bromine-terminated polymethacrylates which employs an inexpensive and environmentally friendly iron catalyst (FeBr2/L). The effect of various solvents and the concentration of metal salt and ligand on the depolymerization are judiciously explored and optimized, allowing for a depolymerization efficiency of up to 86% to be achieved in just 3 minutes. Notably, the versatility of this depolymerization is exemplified by its compatibility with chlorinated and non-chlorinated solvents, and both Fe(ii) and Fe(iii) salts. This work significantly expands the scope of ATRP materials compatible with depolymerization and creates many future opportunities in applications where the depolymerization of bromine-terminated polymers is desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Afroditi Mountaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Richard Whitfield
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Kostas Parkatzidis
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Maria-Nefeli Antonopoulou
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Nghia P Truong
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg-5 8093 Zurich Switzerland
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8
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Bekmirzaev J, Simon M, D'Aniello S, Mazzeo M, Cohen-Janes SJ, Mathers RT, Gauvin RM, Thomas CM. A New Life For Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber: Co-Harnessing Metathesis And Condensation For Reincorporation Into Bio-Based Materials. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319414. [PMID: 38295149 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319414] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Efficient plastic recycling processes are crucial for the production of value-added products or intermediates. Here, we present a multicatalytic route that allows the degradation of nitrile-butadiene rubber, cross-metathesis of the formed oligomers, and polymerization of the resulting dicarboxylic acids with bio-based diols, providing direct access to unsaturated polyesters. This one-pot approach combines the use of commercially available catalysts that are active and selective under mild conditions to synthesize renewable copolymers without the need to isolate intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakhongir Bekmirzaev
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Malaury Simon
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sara D'Aniello
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia "Adolfo Zambelli", Università di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, SA-84084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Mina Mazzeo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia "Adolfo Zambelli", Università di Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, SA-84084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Sander J Cohen-Janes
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, 15068, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA
| | - Robert T Mathers
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, 15068, USA
| | - Régis M Gauvin
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Christophe M Thomas
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, 11, rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
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9
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Clark R, Shaver MP. Depolymerization within a Circular Plastics System. Chem Rev 2024; 124:2617-2650. [PMID: 38386877 PMCID: PMC10941197 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The societal importance of plastics contrasts with the carelessness with which they are disposed. Their superlative properties lead to economic and environmental efficiency, but the linearity of plastics puts the climate, human health, and global ecosystems at risk. Recycling is fundamental to transitioning this linear model into a more sustainable, circular economy. Among recycling technologies, chemical depolymerization offers a route to virgin quality recycled plastics, especially when valorizing complex waste streams poorly served by mechanical methods. However, chemical depolymerization exists in a complex and interlinked system of end-of-life fates, with the complementarity of each approach key to environmental, economic, and societal sustainability. This review explores the recent progress made into the depolymerization of five commercial polymers: poly(ethylene terephthalate), polycarbonates, polyamides, aliphatic polyesters, and polyurethanes. Attention is paid not only to the catalytic technologies used to enhance depolymerization efficiencies but also to the interrelationship with other recycling technologies and to the systemic constraints imposed by a global economy. Novel polymers, designed for chemical depolymerization, are also concisely reviewed in terms of their underlying chemistry and potential for integration with current plastic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robbie
A. Clark
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United
Kingdom
- Sustainable
Materials Innovation Hub, Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United
Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Shaver
- Department
of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United
Kingdom
- Sustainable
Materials Innovation Hub, Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United
Kingdom
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10
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Hughes RW, Lott ME, Zastrow IS, Young JB, Maity T, Sumerlin BS. Bulk Depolymerization of Methacrylate Polymers via Pendent Group Activation. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:6217-6224. [PMID: 38382047 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we present an efficient approach for the depolymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) copolymers synthesized via conventional radical polymerization. By incorporating low mol % phthalimide ester-containing monomers during the polymerization process, colorless and transparent polymers closely resembling unfunctionalized PMMA are obtained, which can achieve >95% reversion to methyl methacrylate (MMA). Notably, our catalyst-free bulk depolymerization method exhibits exceptional efficiency, even for high-molecular-weight polymers, including ultrahigh-molecular-weight (106-107 g/mol) PMMA, where near-quantitative depolymerization is achieved. Moreover, this approach yields polymer byproducts of significantly lower molecular weight, distinguishing it from bulk depolymerization methods initiated from chain ends. Furthermore, we extend our investigation to polymethacrylate networks, demonstrating high extents of depolymerization. This innovative depolymerization strategy offers promising opportunities for the development of sustainable polymethacrylate materials, holding great potential for various applications in polymer science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhys W Hughes
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Megan E Lott
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Isabella S Zastrow
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - James B Young
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Tanmoy Maity
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Brent S Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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11
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Kim CA, Sahasrabudhe CA, Wang YY, Yappert R, Heyden A, Huang W, Sadow AD, Peters B. Population Balance Equations for Reactive Separation in Polymer Upcycling. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:4096-4107. [PMID: 38350109 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Many polymer upcycling efforts aim to convert plastic waste into high-value liquid hydrocarbons. However, the subsequent cleavage of middle distillates to light gases can be problematic. The reactor often contains a vapor phase (light gases and middle distillates) and a liquid phase (molten polymers and waxes with a suspended or dissolved catalyst). Because the catalyst resides in the liquid phase, middle distillates that partition into the vapor phase are protected against further cleavage into light gases. In this paper, we consider a simple reactive separation strategy, in which a gas outflow removes the volatile products as they form. We combine vapor-liquid equilibrium models and population balance equations (PBEs) to describe polymer upcycling in a two-phase semibatch reactor. The results suggest that the temperature, headspace volume, and flow rate of the reactor can be used to tune selectivity toward the middle distillates, in addition to the molecular mechanism of catalysis. We anticipate that two-phase reactor models will be important in many polymer upcycling processes and that reactive separation strategies will provide ways to boost the yield of the desired products in these cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhae Andrew Kim
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Chinmay A Sahasrabudhe
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Yi-Yu Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Ryan Yappert
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Andreas Heyden
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Wenyu Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Ames National Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Aaron D Sadow
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Ames National Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Baron Peters
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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12
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Abdellatif M, Nomura K. Synthesis of Polyesters Containing Long Aliphatic Methylene Units by ADMET Polymerization and Synthesis of ABA-Triblock Copolymers by One-Pot End Modification and Subsequent Living Ring-Opening Polymerization. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:9109-9122. [PMID: 38434832 PMCID: PMC10906047 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The synthesis of high-molecular-weight (Mn up to 62,000 g/mol) polyesters has been achieved by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of α,ω-dienes prepared from biobased bis(undec-10-enoate) and diols [ethylene glycol (M1), propylene glycol (M2), 1,9-nonanediol (M3), 1,4-benzenedimethanol (M4), and hydroquinone (M5)] using ruthenium-carbene catalysts. Replacement of the solvent during the ADMET polymerization was effective for obtainment of the high-molecular-weight polymers (expressed as P1-P5). The melting temperatures (Tm) in the resultant polyesters were dependent upon the diol (middle) segment employed, and the polymer prepared from M5 exceeded 100 °C (a Tm value of 122.5 °C). The polymerization of M3 and M4 in the presence of 1,4-cis-diacetoxy-2-butene (DAB, as the chain transfer agent) afforded the telechelic polyesters [P3(OAc)2 and P4(OAc)2, respectively] containing acetoxy end groups exclusively. The resultant polymers containing hydroxy group termini [P3(OH)2 and P4(OH)2], prepared by the selective deprotection of the acetoxy end groups, were treated with AlEt3 followed by addition of ε-caprolactone to afford the ABA-type triblock copolymers exclusively, through a living ring-opening polymerization. The depolymerization (hydrolysis) under basic conditions (NaOH aqueous solution) of P3 was explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed
Mehawed Abdellatif
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
- Chemistry
of Tanning Materials and Leather Technology Department, Chemical Industries Research Institute, National Research
Centre, 33 El Buhouth
St., Dokki, Giza BP 12622, Egypt
| | - Kotohiro Nomura
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
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13
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Go LOP, Abdellatif MM, Makino R, Shimoyama D, Higashi S, Hirano H, Nomura K. Synthesis of Network Biobased Aliphatic Polyesters Exhibiting Better Tensile Properties than the Linear Polymers by ADMET Polymerization in the Presence of Glycerol Tris(undec-10-enoate). Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:468. [PMID: 38399846 PMCID: PMC10891964 DOI: 10.3390/polym16040468] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Development of biobased aliphatic polyesters with better mechanical (tensile) properties in film has attracted considerable attention. This report presents the synthesis of soluble network biobased aliphatic polyesters by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of bis(undec-10-enyl)isosorbide diester [M1, dianhydro-D-glucityl bis(undec-10-enoate)] in the presence of a tri-arm crosslinker [CL, glycerol tris(undec-10-enoate)] using a ruthenium-carbene catalyst, and subsequent olefin hydrogenation using RhCl(PPh3)3. The resultant polymers, after hydrogenation (expressed as HCP1) and prepared in the presence of 1.0 mol% CL, showed better tensile properties than the linear polymer (HP1) with similar molecular weight [tensile strength (elongation at break): 20.8 MPa (282%) in HP1 vs. 35.4 MPa (572%) in HCP1]. It turned out that the polymer films prepared by the addition of CL during the polymerization (expressed as a 2-step approach) showed better tensile properties. The resultant polymer film also shows better tensile properties than the conventional polyolefins such as linear high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and low density polyethylene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance O’Hari P. Go
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; (L.O.P.G.); (M.M.A.)
| | - Mohamed Mehawed Abdellatif
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; (L.O.P.G.); (M.M.A.)
| | - Ryoji Makino
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; (L.O.P.G.); (M.M.A.)
| | - Daisuke Shimoyama
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; (L.O.P.G.); (M.M.A.)
| | - Seiji Higashi
- Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (ORIST), 1-6-50, Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka 536-8553, Japan; (S.H.)
| | - Hiroshi Hirano
- Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (ORIST), 1-6-50, Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka 536-8553, Japan; (S.H.)
| | - Kotohiro Nomura
- Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; (L.O.P.G.); (M.M.A.)
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14
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Kuroda K, Ouchi M. Umpolung Isomerization in Radical Copolymerization of Benzyl Vinyl Ether with Pentafluorophenylacrylate Leading to Degradable AAB Periodic Copolymers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202316875. [PMID: 37971837 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202316875] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
This study revealed that benzyl vinyl ether (BnVE) shows a peculiar isomerization propagation in its radical copolymerization with an electron-deficient acrylate carrying a pentafluorophenyl group (PFA). The co-monomer pair inherently exhibits the cross-over propagation feature due to the large difference in the electron density. However, the radical species of PFA was found to undergo a backward isomerization to the penultimate BnVE pendant giving a benzyl radical species prior to propagation with BnVE. The isomerization brings a drastic change in the character of the growing radical species from electrophilic to nucleophilic, and thus the isomerized benzyl radial species propagates with PFA. Consequently, the two monomers were consumed in the order AAB (A: PFA; B: BnVE) and the unique periodic consumption was confirmed by the pseudo-reactivity ratios calculated by the penultimate model: r11 =0.174 and r21 =6600 for PFA (M1 ) with BnVE (M2 ). The pentafluorophenyl ester groups of the resulting copolymers are transformed into ester and amide groups by post-polymerization alcoholysis and aminolysis modifications. The unique isomerization in the AAB sequence allowed the periodic introduction of a benzyl ether structure in the backbone leading to efficient degradation under acid conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Kuroda
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
| | - Makoto Ouchi
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
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15
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Chiba Y, Kawatani R, Kohsaka Y. Chemically Recyclable Vinyl Polymers by Free Radical Polymerization of Cyclic Styrene Derivatives. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1672-1676. [PMID: 38010412 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
To achieve a sustainable society supported by resource circulation, vinyl monomers that can radically polymerize and be recovered from vinyl polymers (VPs) are desirable. However, the chemical recycling of VPs remains challenging because of the difficulty in quantitative and selective main-chain scission or depolymerization. In this study, VPs of cyclic styrene derivatives, such as 3-methylene phthalide, were investigated to be chemically recyclable. The ring-opening of the pendant groups by saponification enhanced the steric hindrance of the pendants, which resulted in main-chain scission and depolymerization to the monomer precursors. Highly efficient chemical recycling was achieved by suspending the polymer in aqueous KOH. These results facilitate resource circulation toward achieving a sustainable society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yota Chiba
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Ryo Kawatani
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kohsaka
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
- Research Initiative for Supra-Materials (RISM), Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano, Nagano 380-8553, Japan
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16
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Huang P, Ahamed A, Sun R, De Hoe GX, Pitcher J, Mushing A, Lourenço F, Shaver MP. Circularizing PET-G Multimaterials: Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2023; 11:15328-15337. [PMID: 37886038 PMCID: PMC10598876 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c04047] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The recycling of multimaterials such as payment or access cards poses significant challenges. Building on previous experimental work demonstrating the feasibility of chemically recyclable payment cards made from glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET-G), we use life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis to investigate two chemical recycling scenarios and evaluate their potential environmental and economic benefits. Recovering all components from the depolymerized products (Scenario 1) achieves substantial environmental benefits across most categories, reducing global warming by up to 67% compared to only recovering major components (Scenario 2). However, the environmental benefits in Scenario 1 incur 69% higher total annualized costs, causing its profitability to be dependent on a minimum selling price of £13.4/kg for cyclohexanedimethanol and less than a 10% discount rate. In contrast, Scenario 2 is less sensitive to discount rate variation and thus a lower risk and more economically feasible option, albeit less environmentally sustainable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Huang
- Department
of Materials, Henry Royce Institute, The
University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Ashiq Ahamed
- Pragmatic
Semiconductor Ltd., Cambridge CB4 0WH, U.K.
| | - Ruitao Sun
- School
of Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Guilhem X. De Hoe
- Department
of Materials, Henry Royce Institute, The
University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Joe Pitcher
- Mastercard
DigiSec Lab, 5 Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford WA16 8QZ, U.K.
| | - Alan Mushing
- Mastercard
DigiSec Lab, 5 Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford WA16 8QZ, U.K.
| | - Fernando Lourenço
- Mastercard
DigiSec Lab, 5 Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford WA16 8QZ, U.K.
| | - Michael P. Shaver
- Department
of Materials, Henry Royce Institute, The
University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
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17
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Kuenen MK, Reilly KS, Letteri RA. Elucidating the Effect of Amine Charge State on Poly(β-amino ester) Degradation Using Permanently Charged Analogs. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1416-1422. [PMID: 37793066 PMCID: PMC10986903 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
With synthetic ease and tunable degradation lifetimes, poly(β-amino ester)s (PBAEs) have found use in increasingly diverse applications, from gene therapy to thermosets. Protonatable amines in each repeating unit impart pH-dependent solution behavior and lifetimes, with acidic conditions favoring solubility, yet slowing hydrolysis. Due in part to these interconnected phenomena governing pH-dependent PBAE degradation, predictive degradation models, which would enable user-defined lifetimes, remain elusive. To separate the effects of charge state and solution pH on PBAE degradation, we synthesized poly(β-quaternary ammonium ester)s (PBQAEs), which differ from their parent PBAEs only by an additional methyl group, generating polymers with pH-independent cationic charge. Like PBAEs, PBQAE hydrolysis accelerates with increasing pH, although at a given pH, PBAE degradation outpaces PBQAE degradation. This difference is more pronounced in basic solutions, suggesting that deprotonated PBAE amines accelerate hydrolysis, providing an additional tuning parameter to PBAE lifetime and informing the degradation of PBAEs and other pH-responsive polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara K Kuenen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - Keelin S Reilly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
| | - Rachel A Letteri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States
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18
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Kojima M, Wang X, Go LO, Makino R, Matsumoto Y, Shimoyama D, Abdellatif MM, Kadota J, Higashi S, Hirano H, Nomura K. Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Biobased Aliphatic Polyesters Exhibiting Tensile Properties Beyond Polyethylene. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1403-1408. [PMID: 37793171 PMCID: PMC10586459 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Synthesis of high molecular weight polyesters prepared by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of bis(undec-10-enoate) with isosorbide (M1), isomannide (M2), and 1,3-propanediol (M3) and the subsequent hydrogenation have been achieved by using a molybdenum-alkylidene catalyst. The resultant polymers (P1) prepared by the ADMET polymerization of M1 (in toluene at 25 °C) possessed high Mn values (Mn = 44400-49400 g/mol), and no significant differences in the Mn values and the PDI (Mw/Mn) values were observed in the samples after the hydrogenation. Both the tensile strength and the elongation at break in the hydrogenated polymers from M1 (HP1) increased upon increasing the molar mass, and the sample with an Mn value of 48200 exhibited better tensile properties (tensile strength of 39.7 MPa, elongation at break of 436%) than conventional polyethylene, polypropylene, as well as polyester containing C18 alkyl chains. The tensile properties were affected by the diol segment employed, whereas HP2 showed a similar property to HP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika Kojima
- Department
of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Xiuxiu Wang
- Department
of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Lance O’Hari
P. Go
- Department
of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Ryoji Makino
- Department
of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Yuichi Matsumoto
- Department
of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Daisuke Shimoyama
- Department
of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Mohamed Mehawed Abdellatif
- Department
of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Joji Kadota
- Osaka
Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (ORIST), 1-6-50, Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka 536-8553, Japan
| | - Seiji Higashi
- Osaka
Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (ORIST), 1-6-50, Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka 536-8553, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hirano
- Osaka
Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (ORIST), 1-6-50, Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka 536-8553, Japan
| | - Kotohiro Nomura
- Department
of Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
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19
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Arifuzzaman M, Sumpter BG, Demchuk Z, Do C, Arnould MA, Rahman MA, Cao PF, Popovs I, Davis RJ, Dai S, Saito T. Selective deconstruction of mixed plastics by a tailored organocatalyst. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:3360-3368. [PMID: 37482885 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00801k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Plastic represents an essential material in our society; however, a major imbalance between their high production and end-of-life management is leading to unrecovered energy, economic hardship, and a high carbon footprint. The adoption of plastic recycling has been limited, mainly due to the difficulty of recycling mixed plastics. Here, we report a versatile organocatalyst for selective glycolysis of diverse consumer plastics and their mixed waste streams into valuable chemicals. The developed organocatalyst selectively deconstructs condensation polymers at a specific temperature, and additives or other polymers such as polyolefin or cellulose can be readily separated from the mixed plastics, providing a chemical recycling path for many existing mixed plastics today. The Life Cycle Assessment indicates that the production of various condensation polymers from the deconstructed monomers will result in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and energy input, opening a new paradigm of plastic circularity toward a net-zero carbon society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Arifuzzaman
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Bobby G Sumpter
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Zoriana Demchuk
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Changwoo Do
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Mark A Arnould
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Md Anisur Rahman
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Peng-Fei Cao
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Ilja Popovs
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Robert J Davis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4741, USA
| | - Sheng Dai
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Tomonori Saito
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
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20
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Ng KWJ, Lim JSK, Gupta N, Dong BX, Hu CP, Hu J, Hu XM. A facile alternative strategy of upcycling mixed plastic waste into vitrimers. Commun Chem 2023; 6:158. [PMID: 37500812 PMCID: PMC10374618 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00949-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical depolymerization has been identified as a promising approach towards recycling of plastic waste. However, complete depolymerization may be energy intensive with complications in purification. In this work, we have demonstrated upcycling of mixed plastic waste comprising a mixture of polyester, polyamide, and polyurethane through a reprocessable vitrimer of the depolymerized oligomers. Using poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) as a model polymer, we first demonstrated partial controlled depolymerization, using glycerol as a cleaving agent, to obtain branched PET oligomers. Recovered PET (RPET) oligomer was then used as a feedstock to produce a crosslinked yet reprocessable vitrimer (vRPET) despite having a wide molecular weight distribution using a solventless melt processing approach. Crosslinking and dynamic interactions were observed through rheology and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Tensile mechanical studies showed no noticeable decrease in mechanical strength over multiple repeated melt processing cycles. Consequently, we have clearly demonstrated the applicability of the above method to upcycle mixed plastic wastes into vitrimers and reprocessable composites. This work also afforded insights into a potentially viable alternative route for utilization of depolymerized plastic/mixed plastic waste into crosslinked vitrimer resins manifesting excellent mechanical strength, while remaining reprocessable/ recyclable for cyclical lifetime use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kok Wei Joseph Ng
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jacob Song Kiat Lim
- Temasek Laboratories, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637553, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nupur Gupta
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bing Xue Dong
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chun-Po Hu
- Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jingdan Hu
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiao Matthew Hu
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore.
- Temasek Laboratories, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637553, Singapore, Singapore.
- Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore, Singapore.
- Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Lab, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore.
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21
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Miao Y, Zhao Y, Waterhouse GIN, Shi R, Wu LZ, Zhang T. Photothermal recycling of waste polyolefin plastics into liquid fuels with high selectivity under solvent-free conditions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4242. [PMID: 37454122 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40005-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The widespread use of polyolefin plastics in modern societies generates huge amounts of plastic waste. With a view toward sustainability, researchers are now seeking novel and low-cost strategies for recycling and valorizing polyolefin plastics. Herein, we report the successful development of a photothermal catalytic recycling system for transforming polyolefin plastics into liquid/waxy fuels under concentrated sunlight or xenon lamp irradiation. Photothermal heating of a Ru/TiO2 catalyst to 200-300 °C in the presence of polyolefin plastics results in intimate catalyst-plastic contact and controllable hydrogenolysis of C-C and C-H bonds in the polymer chains (mediated by Ru sites). By optimizing the reaction temperature and pressure, the complete conversion of waste polyolefins into valuable liquid fuels (86% gasoline- and diesel-range hydrocarbons, C5-C21) is possible in short periods (3 h). This work demonstrates a simple and efficient strategy for recycling waste polyolefin plastics using abundant solar energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxuan Miao
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China.
| | | | - Run Shi
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Zhu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
| | - Tierui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China.
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
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22
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Kariyawasam LS, Highmoore JF, Yang Y. Chemically Recyclable Dithioacetal Polymers via Reversible Entropy-Driven Ring-Opening Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202303039. [PMID: 36988027 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303039] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
In a sustainable circular economy, polymers capable of chemical recycling to monomers are highly desirable. We report an efficient monomer-polymer recycling of polydithioacetal (PDTA). Pristine PDTAs were readily synthesized from 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde and alkyl dithiols. They then exhibited depolymerizability via ring-closing depolymerization into macrocycles, followed by entropy-driven ring-opening polymerization (ED-ROP) to reform the virgin polymers. High conversions were obtained for both the forward and reverse reactions. Once crosslinked, the network exhibited thermal reprocessability enabled by acid-catalyzed dithioacetal exchange. The network retained the recyclability into macrocyclic monomers in solvent which can repolymerize to regenerate the crosslinked network. These results demonstrated PDTA as a new molecular platform for the design of recyclable polymers and the advantages of ED-ROP for which polymerization is favored at higher temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ying Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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23
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Akhtar S, Pranay K, Kumari K. Personal protective equipment and micro-nano plastics: A review of an unavoidable interrelation for a global well-being hazard. HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVANCES 2023; 6:100055. [PMID: 37102160 PMCID: PMC10089666 DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2023.100055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
The usage and the demand for personal protective equipments (PPEs) for our day-to-day survival in this pandemic period of COVID-19 have seen a steep rise which has consequently led to improper disposal and littering. Fragmentation of these PPE units has eventually given way to micro-nano plastics (MNPs) emission in the various environmental matrices and exposure of living organisms to these MNPs has proven to be severely toxic. Numerous factors contribute to the toxicity imparted by these MNPs that mainly include their shape, size, functional groups and their chemical diversity. Even though multiple studies on the impacts of MNPs toxicity are available for other organisms, human cell line studies for various plastic polymers, other than the most common ones namely polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP), are still at their nascent stage and need to be explored more. In this article, we cover a concise review of the literature on the impact of these MNPs in biotic and human systems focusing on the constituents of the PPE units and the additives that are essentially used for their manufacturing. This review will subsequently identify the need to gather scientific evidence at the smaller level to help combat this microplastic pollution and induce a more in-depth understanding of its adverse effect on our existence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaheen Akhtar
- Kolkata Zonal Centre, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata 700107, West Bengal, India
| | - Kumar Pranay
- Department of Biochemistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna 800014, Bihar, India
| | - Kanchan Kumari
- Kolkata Zonal Centre, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata 700107, West Bengal, India
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24
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Al-Naji M, Antonietti M. Turning Polyethylene Waste to Hydrocarbons Using a Sustainable Acidic Carbocatalyst. CHEMSUSCHEM 2023; 16:e202201991. [PMID: 36637905 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202201991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Careless release of plastic waste is a pressing problem for marine and other eco-environments, and materials recycling of this stream is an open problem. For this purpose, a new metal-free acidic carbocatalyst with 8 wt % sulfur is constructed from a side product of the paper industry namely Na-lignosulfonate. The catalyst shows an extraordinary performance for the fragmentation of polymer waste which smoothly occurs above the ceiling temperature of the polymers. The reaction is run without hydrogen and at ambient pressure with commercially available high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as well as a real polymer waste mixture of high and low-density polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE). In all cases, a homologous series of n-alkanes and n-alkenes are obtained. The unique sulfur-rich carbonaceous structure (transfer hydrogenation functionality) and the metal-free character of the acidic carbocatalyst makes it inert against many typical catalyst poisons, among them water, salt, polar functionalities, and sulfur species. The described performance in plastic recycling, as well as the low cost and large-scale availability of lignosulfonate from the pulp industry, makes this metal-free acidic carbocatalyst promising for real-life environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majd Al-Naji
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Markus Antonietti
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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25
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Yue L, Su YL, Li M, Yu L, Montgomery SM, Sun X, Finn MG, Gutekunst WR, Ramprasad R, Qi HJ. One-Pot Synthesis of Depolymerizable δ-Lactone Based Vitrimers. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2300954. [PMID: 37060583 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A depolymerizable vitrimer that allows both reprocessability and monomer recovery by a simple and scalable one-pot two-step synthesis of vitrimers from cyclic lactones is reported. Biobased δ-valerolactone with alkyl substituents (δ-lactone) has low ceiling temperature; thus, their ring-opening-polymerized aliphatic polyesters are capable of depolymerizing back to monomers. In this work, the amorphous poly(δ-lactone) is solidified into an elastomer (i.e., δ-lactone vitrimer) by a vinyl ether cross-linker with dynamic acetal linkages, giving the merits of reprocessing and healing. Thermolysis of the bulk δ-lactone vitrimer at 200 °C can recover 85-90 wt% of the material, allowing reuse without losing value and achieving a successful closed-loop life cycle. It further demonstrates that the new vitrimer has excellent properties, with the potential to serve as a biobased and sustainable replacement of conventional soft elastomers for various applications such as lenses, mold materials, soft robots, and microfluidic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yue
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Yong-Liang Su
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Mingzhe Li
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Luxia Yu
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - S Macrae Montgomery
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Xiaohao Sun
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - M G Finn
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Will R Gutekunst
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Rampi Ramprasad
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - H Jerry Qi
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Rewable Bioproduct Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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26
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Hester HG, Abel BA, Coates GW. Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Poly(Dioxolane): Enhancing the Mechanical Performance of a Chemically Recyclable Polymer. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:8800-8804. [PMID: 37058609 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
We report a method to synthesize ultra-high-molecular-weight poly(1,3-dioxolane) (UHMW pDXL), a chemically recyclable thermoplastic material with excellent physical properties. We aimed to enhance the mechanical properties of sustainable polymers by increasing the molecular weight and found that UHMW pDXL exhibits similar tensile properties to ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The new polymerization method uses metal-free and economically friendly initiators to achieve UHMW pDXL with molecular weights greater than 1000 kDa. The development of UHMW pDXL provides a potential solution for capturing value from plastic waste and addressing the detrimental effects of plastic waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Grace Hester
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Brooks A Abel
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Geoffrey W Coates
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
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27
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Al-Ithawi WKA, Khasanov AF, Kovalev IS, Nikonov IL, Platonov VA, Kopchuk DS, Santra S, Zyryanov GV, Ranu BC. TM-Free and TM-Catalyzed Mechanosynthesis of Functional Polymers. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15081853. [PMID: 37112002 PMCID: PMC10142995 DOI: 10.3390/polym15081853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanochemically induced methods are commonly used for the depolymerization of polymers, including plastic and agricultural wastes. So far, these methods have rarely been used for polymer synthesis. Compared to conventional polymerization in solutions, mechanochemical polymerization offers numerous advantages such as less or no solvent consumption, the accessibility of novel structures, the inclusion of co-polymers and post-modified polymers, and, most importantly, the avoidance of problems posed by low monomer/oligomer solubility and fast precipitation during polymerization. Consequently, the development of new functional polymers and materials, including those based on mechanochemically synthesized polymers, has drawn much interest, particularly from the perspective of green chemistry. In this review, we tried to highlight the most representative examples of transition-metal (TM)-free and TM-catalyzed mechanosynthesis of some functional polymers, such as semiconductive polymers, porous polymeric materials, sensory materials, materials for photovoltaics, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahab K A Al-Ithawi
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- Energy and Renewable Energies Technology Center, University of Technology-Iraq, Baghdad 10066, Iraq
| | - Albert F Khasanov
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Igor S Kovalev
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Igor L Nikonov
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- I. Ya. Postovsky Institute of Organic Synthesis of RAS (Ural Division), 22/20 S. Kovalevskoy/Akademicheskaya St., 620219 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Vadim A Platonov
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Dmitry S Kopchuk
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- I. Ya. Postovsky Institute of Organic Synthesis of RAS (Ural Division), 22/20 S. Kovalevskoy/Akademicheskaya St., 620219 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Sougata Santra
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Grigory V Zyryanov
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- I. Ya. Postovsky Institute of Organic Synthesis of RAS (Ural Division), 22/20 S. Kovalevskoy/Akademicheskaya St., 620219 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Brindaban C Ranu
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira St., 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
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28
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Tournier V, Duquesne S, Guillamot F, Cramail H, Taton D, Marty A, André I. Enzymes' Power for Plastics Degradation. Chem Rev 2023; 123:5612-5701. [PMID: 36916764 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are everywhere in our modern way of living, and their production keeps increasing every year, causing major environmental concerns. Nowadays, the end-of-life management involves accumulation in landfills, incineration, and recycling to a lower extent. This ecological threat to the environment is inspiring alternative bio-based solutions for plastic waste treatment and recycling toward a circular economy. Over the past decade, considerable efforts have been made to degrade commodity plastics using biocatalytic approaches. Here, we provide a comprehensive review on the recent advances in enzyme-based biocatalysis and in the design of related biocatalytic processes to recycle or upcycle commodity plastics, including polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and polyolefins. We also discuss scope and limitations, challenges, and opportunities of this field of research. An important message from this review is that polymer-assimilating enzymes are very likely part of the solution to reaching a circular plastic economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Tournier
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Sophie Duquesne
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, TBI, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, Toulouse, France, 135, avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
| | - Frédérique Guillamot
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Henri Cramail
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Daniel Taton
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Alain Marty
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Isabelle André
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, TBI, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, Toulouse, France, 135, avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
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29
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Li MQ, Luo ZX, Yu XY, Tian GQ, Wu G, Chen SC, Wang YZ. Ring-Opening Polymerization of a Seven-Membered Lactone toward a Biocompatible, Degradable, and Recyclable Semi-aromatic Polyester. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mao-Qin Li
- 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
| | - Zi-Xuan Luo
- 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
| | - Xiao-Yan Yu
- 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
| | - Guo-Qiang Tian
- 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
| | - Gang Wu
- 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
| | - Si-Chong Chen
- 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
- 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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30
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Tian G, Wang H, Song Y, Xiang J, Ying Y, Han X, Wang S, Zhang L, Zhang J, Tang N. Study on zinc oxide‐creatinine hybrid catalyst for efficient lactide synthesis with low racemization. J Appl Polym Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/app.53762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Guiying Tian
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco‐utilization Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Huiqing Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco‐utilization Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Yuanyuan Song
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco‐utilization Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Jun Xiang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco‐utilization Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Yiran Ying
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Xurui Han
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Songbo Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco‐utilization Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco‐utilization Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Jianping Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco‐utilization Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
| | - Na Tang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco‐utilization Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
- College of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) Tianjin China
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31
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Kulkarni A, Quintens G, Pitet LM. Trends in Polyester Upcycling for Diversifying a Problematic Waste Stream. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amruta Kulkarni
- Advanced Functional Polymers (AFP) Laboratory, Institute for Materials Research (imo-imomec), Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Greg Quintens
- Advanced Functional Polymers (AFP) Laboratory, Institute for Materials Research (imo-imomec), Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Louis M. Pitet
- Advanced Functional Polymers (AFP) Laboratory, Institute for Materials Research (imo-imomec), Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
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32
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Zhang Y, Qi MY, Tang ZR, Xu YJ. Photoredox-Catalyzed Plastic Waste Conversion: Nonselective Degradation versus Selective Synthesis. ACS Catal 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c00301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming-Yu Qi
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zi-Rong Tang
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi-Jun Xu
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, People’s Republic of China
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33
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Zhou X, Kandalai S, Hossain F, Zhang N, Li H, Zheng Q. pH-Responsive and Recyclable Hydrogels for Gas Releasing and Scavenging. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2300008. [PMID: 36807445 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300008] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Gas-releasing/scavenging hydrogels have wide applications in biomedical and industrial fields. However, the covalently crosslinked nature of these existing materials makes them difficult to degrade or recycle, leading to a waste of raw materials and aggravating environmental pollution. Herein, a new class of pH-responsive and recyclable hydrogels with versatile gas-releasing and scavenging properties is reported, utilizing pH changes to reversibly control disassembly and reassembly of the hydrogel network. The initial hydrogels are constructed via the one-pot radical polymerization and contain dynamic molecular networks based on hydrophobic interactions, which can disassemble when the materials are placed in low pH solutions. The disassembled copolymer chains can reform hydrogels, following supplementation with fresh mineral salts and micelle monomers in neutral solutions. Moreover, the mineral salts used to reform hydrogels can function as gas donors or scavengers, endowing these hydrogels with versatile gas-releasing and consuming properties. Overall, this research provides a facile and environmentally friendly method to recycle hydrogels with gas-releasing and gas-scavenging properties, which have potential applications in diverse fields, including wound healing, wastewater management, and gas therapy for diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhuang Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States.,Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
| | - Shruthi Kandalai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States.,Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
| | - Farzana Hossain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States.,Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States.,Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
| | - Huapeng Li
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
| | - Qingfei Zheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States.,Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States.,Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
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34
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Depolymerization of Polyesters by Transesterification with Ethanol Using (Cyclopentadienyl)titanium Trichlorides. Catalysts 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/catal13020421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Exclusive chemical conversions of polyesters [poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA), poly(butylene adipate) (PBA), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)] to the corresponding monomers (diethyl adipate, diethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol) by transesterification with ethanol using Cp’TiCl3 (Cp’ = Cp, Cp*) catalyst have been demonstrated. The present acid-base-free depolymerizations by Cp’TiCl3 exhibited completed conversions (>99%) of PET, PBT to afford diethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol or 1,4-butane diol exclusively (selectivity >99%) without formation of any other by-products in the NMR spectra (150–170 °C, Ti 1.0, or 2.0 mol%). The resultant reaction mixture after the depolymerization of PBA with ethanol via the CpTiCl3 catalyst (1.0 mol%, 150 °C, 3 h), consisting of diethyl adipate and 1,4-butane diol, was heated at 150 °C in vacuo for 24 h to afford high molecular weight recycled PBA with unimodal molecular weight distribution (Mn = 11,800, Mw/Mn = 1.6), strongly demonstrating a possibility of one-pot (acid-base-free) closed-loop chemical recycling.
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35
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Kubota H, Ouchi M. Rapid and Selective Photo-degradation of Polymers: Design of an Alternating Copolymer with an o-Nitrobenzyl Ether Pendant. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202217365. [PMID: 36522304 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202217365] [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: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of polymers with on-demand degradability is required to alleviate the current global issues on polymer-waste pollution. Therefore, we designed a vinyl ether monomer with an o-nitrobenzyl (oNBn) group as a photo-deprotectable pendant (oNBnVE) and synthesized an alternating copolymer with an oNBn-capped acetal backbone via cationic copolymerization with p-tolualdehyde (pMeBzA). The resultant alternating copolymer could be rapidly degraded into lower-molecular-weight compounds upon simple exposure to UV irradiation without any reactants or catalysts, while it was sufficiently stable toward heat and ambient light. This degradation proceeds via cleavage of the hemiacetal structure generated upon photo-deprotection of the oNBn pendant. The oNBn-peculiar degradability allowed the exclusive photo-degradation of the oNBnVE/pMeBzA segments in a diblock copolymer composed of oNBnVE/pMeBzA and benzyl vinyl ether (BnVE)/pMeBzA segments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Kubota
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
| | - Makoto Ouchi
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
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36
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Zhang Z, Lei D, Zhang C, Wang Z, Jin Y, Zhang W, Liu X, Sun J. Strong and Tough Supramolecular Covalent Adaptable Networks with Room-Temperature Closed-Loop Recyclability. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2208619. [PMID: 36367361 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Development of closed-loop chemically recyclable plastics (CCRPs) that can be widely used in daily life can be a fundamental solution to the global plastic waste crisis. Hence, it is of great significance to develop easy-to-recycle CCRPs that possess superior or comparable material properties to the commodity plastics. Here, a novel dual crosslinked CCRP, namely, supramolecular covalent adaptable networks (supra-CANs), is reported, which not only displays mechanical properties higher than the strong and tough commodity polycarbonate, but also exhibits excellent solvent resistance as thermosets. The supra-CANs are constructed by introducing reversible noncovalent crosslinks into the dynamic covalent polymer networks, resulting in highly stiff and strong thermosets that also exhibit thermoplastic-like ductile and tough behaviors as well as reprocessability and rehealability. In great contrast, the analogs that do not have noncovalent crosslinks (CANs) show elastomeric properties with significantly decreased mechanical strength. Importantly, the developed supra-CANs and CANs can be converted back into the initial monomers in high yields and purity at room temperature, even with additives, which enables the sustainable polymer-monomer-polymer circulation. This work provides new design principles for high-performance chemically recyclable polymers as sustainable substitutes for the conventional plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoqiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Dong Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Chenxuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Yinghua Jin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Xiaokong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Junqi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
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37
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A circular polyester platform based on simple gem-disubstituted valerolactones. Nat Chem 2023; 15:278-285. [PMID: 36344817 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-01077-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Geminal disubstitution of cyclic monomers is an effective strategy to enhance the chemical recyclability of their polymers, but it is utilized for that purpose alone and often at the expense of performance properties. Here we present synergistic use of gem-α,α-disubstitution of available at-scale, bio-based δ-valerolactones to yield gem-dialkyl-substituted valerolactones ([Formula: see text]), which generate polymers that solve not only the poor chemical recyclability but also the low melting temperature and mechanical performance of the parent poly(δ-valerolactone); the gem-disubstituted polyesters ([Formula: see text]) therefore not only exhibit complete chemical recyclability but also thermal, mechanical and transport properties that rival or exceed those of polyethylene. Through a fundamental structure-property study that reveals intriguing impacts of the alkyl chain length on materials performance of [Formula: see text], this work establishes a simple circular, high-performance polyester platform based on [Formula: see text] and highlights the importance of synergistic utilization of gem-disubstitution for enhancing both chemical recyclability and materials performance of sustainable polyesters.
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38
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Adegoke KA, Adu FA, Oyebamiji AK, Bamisaye A, Adigun RA, Olasoji SO, Ogunjinmi OE. Microplastics toxicity, detection, and removal from water/wastewater. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114546. [PMID: 36640497 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The world has witnessed massive and preeminent microplastics (MPs) pollution in water bodies due to the inevitable continuous production of plastics for various advantageous chemical and mechanical features. Plastic pollution, particularly contamination by MPs (plastic particles having a diameter lesser than 5 mm), has been a rising environmental concern in recent years due to the inappropriate disposal of plastic trash. This study presents the recent advancements in different technologies for MPs removal in order to gain proper insight into their strengths and weaknesses, thereby orchestrating the preparation for innovation in the field. The production, origin, and global complexity of MPs were discussed. This study also reveals MPs' mode of transportation, its feedstock polymers, toxicities, detection techniques, and the conventional removal strategies of MPs from contaminated systems. Modification of conventional methods vis-à-vis new materials/techniques and other emerging technologies, such as magnetic extraction and sol-gel technique with detailed mechanistic information for the removal of MPs are presented in this study. Conclusively, some future research outlooks for advancing the MPs removal technologies/materials for practical realization are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayode Adesina Adegoke
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa.
| | - Folasade Abimbola Adu
- Discipline of Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Abel Kolawole Oyebamiji
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria.
| | - Abayomi Bamisaye
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Rasheed Adewale Adigun
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Fountain University, P. M. B. 4491, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
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39
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Mechanistic insights into the pyrolysis of poly (vinyl chloride). JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10965-023-03439-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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40
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Li XL, Ma K, Xu F, Xu TQ. Advances in the Synthesis of Chemically Recyclable Polymers. Chem Asian J 2023; 18:e202201167. [PMID: 36623942 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202201167] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The development of modern society is closely related to polymer materials. However, the accumulation of polymer materials and their evolution in the environment causes not only serious environmental problems, but also waste of resources. Although physical processing can be used to reuse polymers, the properties of the resulting polymers are significantly degraded. Chemically recyclable polymers, a type of polymer that degrades into monomers, can be an effective solution to the degradation of polymer properties caused by physical recycling of polymers. The ideal chemical recycling of polymers, i. e., quantitative conversion of the polymer to monomers at low energy consumption and repolymerization of the formed monomers into polymers with comparable properties to the original, is an attractive research goal. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the design of recyclable polymers, enabling the regulation of the "polymerization-depolymerization" equilibrium and closed-loop recycling under mild conditions. This review will focus on the following aspects of closed-loop recycling of poly(sulfur) esters, polycarbonates, polyacetals, polyolefins, and poly(disulfide) polymer, illustrate the challenges in this area, and provide an outlook on future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Department of Chemistry School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Kai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Department of Chemistry School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Fei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Department of Chemistry School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Tie-Qi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Department of Chemistry School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
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41
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Using waste poly(vinyl chloride) to synthesize chloroarenes by plasticizer-mediated electro(de)chlorination. Nat Chem 2023; 15:222-229. [PMID: 36376389 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-01078-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
New approaches are needed to both reduce and reuse plastic waste. In this context, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is an appealing target as it is the least recycled high-production-volume polymer due to its facile release of plasticizers and corrosive HCl gas. Herein, these limitations become advantageous in a paired-electrolysis reaction in which HCl is intentionally generated from PVC to chlorinate arenes in an air- and moisture-tolerant process that is mediated by the plasticizer. The reaction proceeds efficiently with other plastic waste present and a commercial plasticized PVC product (laboratory tubing) can be used directly. A simplified life-cycle assessment reveals that using PVC waste as the chlorine source in the paired-electrolysis reaction has a lower global warming potential than HCl. Overall, this method should inspire other strategies for repurposing waste PVC and related polymers using electrosynthetic reactions, including those that take advantage of existing polymer additives.
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42
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Zhou X, Liu Q, Xu G, Yang R, Sun H, Wang Q. Chemical upcycling of poly(lactide) plastic waste to lactate ester, lactide and new poly(lactide) under Mg-catalysis condition. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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43
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Arroyave A, Cui S, Lopez JC, Kocen AL, LaPointe AM, Delferro M, Coates GW. Catalytic Chemical Recycling of Post-Consumer Polyethylene. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:23280-23285. [PMID: 36524740 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c11949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Among commercial plastics, polyolefins are the most widely produced worldwide but have limited recyclability. Here, we report a chemical recycling route for the conversion of post-consumer high-density polyethylene (HDPE) into telechelic macromonomers suitable for circular reprocessing. Unsaturation was introduced into HDPE by catalytic dehydrogenation using an Ir-POCOP catalyst without an alkene acceptor. Cross-metathesis with 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate followed by hydrogenation transformed the partially unsaturated HDPE into telechelic macromonomers. The direct repolymerization of the macromonomers gave a brittle material due to the low overall weight-average molecular weight. Aminolysis of telechelic macromonomers with a small amount of diethanolamine increased the overall functionality. The resulting macromonomers were repolymerized through transesterification to generate a polymer with comparable mechanical properties to the starting post-consumer HDPE waste. Depolymerization of the repolymerized material catalyzed by an organic base regenerated the telechelic macromonomers, thereby allowing waste polyethylene materials to enter a chemical recycling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Arroyave
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439-4801, United States
| | - Shilin Cui
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Jaqueline C Lopez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Andrew L Kocen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Anne M LaPointe
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Massimiliano Delferro
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439-4801, United States.,Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637-1433, United States
| | - Geoffrey W Coates
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
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44
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Tsai CY, Huang MC, Lin ML, Su YC, Lin CC. Well-Defined and Highly Effective Nickel Catalysts Coordinated on Tridentate SNO Schiff-Base Derivatives for Alternating Copolymerization of Epoxides and Anhydrides. Inorg Chem 2022; 61:19870-19881. [PMID: 36451620 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c03094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
A series of Ni complexes supported by SNO Schiff-base derivatives were synthesized in this study. Complex synthesis and characterization data are reported herein. Treatment of the pro-ligands [L1-H = 2-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol, L2-H = 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol, L3-H = 2-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)-4,6-bis(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)phenol, L4-H = 4-bromo-2-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol, and L5-H = 4-chloro-2-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol] with Ni(OAc)2·4H2O in refluxing ethanol afforded six-coordinate mono-Ni(II) complexes [L2nNi] (n = 1-5). Noteworthy, a heptanuclear nickel(II) octacarboxylate species complex 6 and dinuclear nickel complex 6a resulted from treatment of L6-H [4-fluoro-2-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol] with different metal precursors [Ni(OAc)2·4H2O for 6; NiBr2 for 6a] giving a quantitative yield. The reaction of nickel acetate tetrahydrate and L7-H to L9-H [L7-H = 2-methoxy-6-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol, L8-H = 5-methoxy-2-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol, and L9-H = 4-methoxy-2-(((2-(methylthio)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol] produced the four-coordinate complexes [L2nNi] (n = 7-9). The highest performing catalyst was complex 3, which was highly efficient for the ring-opening copolymerization of phthalic anhydride (PA) and cyclohexene oxide (CHO) in the presence of a cocatalyst (4-dimethylaminopyridine). In addition, the same copolymerization conditions produced narrowly dispersed polyesters, with high selectivity and polymerization control. In addition to PA-CHO copolymerization, efficient diglycolic anhydride-PA and PA-propene oxide copolymerization was achieved under the same conditions. These catalysts are straightforward to produce and extend the scope of potential substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yen Tsai
- Department of Chemistry, Chinese Culture University, Taipei 111, Taiwan
| | - Min-Chia Huang
- Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Ling Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Chinese Culture University, Taipei 111, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chia Su
- Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Chieh Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
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45
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Closed-loop chemical recycling of cross-linked polymeric materials based on reversible amidation chemistry. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7595. [PMID: 36494357 PMCID: PMC9734120 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35365-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Closed-loop chemical recycling provides a solution to the end-of-use problem of synthetic polymers. However, it remains a major challenge to design dynamic bonds, capable of effective bonding and reversible cleaving, for preparing chemically recyclable cross-linked polymers. Herein, we report a dynamic maleic acid tertiary amide bond based upon reversible amidation reaction between maleic anhydrides and secondary amines. This dynamic bond allows for the construction of polymer networks with tailorable and robust mechanical properties, covering strong elastomers with a tensile strength of 22.3 MPa and rigid plastics with a yield strength of 38.3 MPa. Impressively, these robust polymeric materials can be completely depolymerized in an acidic aqueous solution at ambient temperature, leading to efficient monomer recovery with >94% separation yields. Meanwhile, the recovered monomers can be used to remanufacture cross-linked polymeric materials without losing their original mechanical performance. This work unveils a general approach to design polymer networks with tunable mechanical performance and closed-loop recyclability, which will open a new avenue for sustainable polymeric materials.
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46
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Novel efficient method of chemical upcycling of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottles by acidolysis with adipic acid under microwave irradiation. Polym Degrad Stab 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2022.110175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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47
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Zhang W, Douglas JF, Starr FW. How Dispersity from Step-Growth Polymerization Affects Polymer Dynamics from Coarse-Grained Molecular Simulations. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wengang Zhang
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States
| | - Jack F. Douglas
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States
| | - Francis W. Starr
- Department of Physics, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut06459, United States
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48
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Chemical recycling and upcycling of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) via metal acetate catalyzed glycolysis. Polym Degrad Stab 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2022.110210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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49
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Xu Y, Wang J, Luo Z, Li J, Xue B, Chen X, Li X, Yang L, Linghu C, Tao Y. Structures of the co‐branching reactive products of isotactic polypropylene with high‐density polyethylene and the effect on the in situ compatibilization of mixed recycled materials. J Appl Polym Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/app.53170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yinhan Xu
- College of Materials and Metallurgy Guizhou University Guiyang China
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Materials and Metallurgy Guizhou University Guiyang China
| | - Zhu Luo
- College of Materials and Metallurgy Guizhou University Guiyang China
| | - Jianjun Li
- Kingfa Science & Technology Co., Ltd Guangzhou China
| | - Bai Xue
- College of Materials and Metallurgy Guizhou University Guiyang China
| | | | - Xiaolong Li
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science &Technology Wuhan China
| | - Le Yang
- School of Materials and Energy Engineering Guizhou Institute of Technology Guiyang China
| | - Changkai Linghu
- College of Materials and Metallurgy Guizhou University Guiyang China
| | - Yao Tao
- College of Materials and Metallurgy Guizhou University Guiyang China
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50
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Deng Y, Zhang Q, Qu DH, Tian H, Feringa BL. A Chemically Recyclable Crosslinked Polymer Network Enabled by Orthogonal Dynamic Covalent Chemistry. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202209100. [PMID: 35922379 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202209100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemical recycling of synthetic polymers offers a solution for developing sustainable plastics and materials. Here we show that two types of dynamic covalent chemistry can be orthogonalized in a solvent-free polymer network and thus enable a chemically recyclable crosslinked material. Using a simple acylhydrazine-based 1,2-dithiolane as the starting material, the disulfide-mediated reversible polymerization and acylhydrazone-based dynamic covalent crosslinking can be combined in a one-pot solvent-free reaction, resulting in mechanically robust, tough, and processable crosslinked materials. The dynamic covalent bonds in both backbones and crosslinkers endow the network with depolymerization capability under mild conditions and, importantly, virgin-quality monomers can be recovered and separated. This proof-of-concept study show opportunities to design chemically recyclable materials based on the dynamic chemistry toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxin Deng
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.,Stratingh Institute for Chemistry and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Qi Zhang
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Da-Hui Qu
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - He Tian
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ben L Feringa
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.,Stratingh Institute for Chemistry and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
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