The Chemical Recycling of Polyesters for a Circular Plastics Economy: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities

Matthew Jones; Jack Payne

doi:10.1002/cssc.202100400

The Chemical Recycling of Polyesters for a Circular Plastics Economy: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities

Matthew Jones
, Jack Payne

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

391 Citations (SciVal)

480 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Whilst plastics have played an instrumental role in human development, growing environmental concerns have led to increasing public scrutiny and demands for outright bans. This has stimulated considerable research into renewable alternatives, and more recently, the development of alternative waste management strategies. Herein, the aim was to highlight recent developments in the catalytic chemical recycling of two commercial polyesters, namely poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The concept of chemical recycling is first introduced, and associated opportunities/challenges are discussed within the context of the governing depolymerisation thermodynamics. Chemical recycling methods for PLA and PET are then discussed, with a particular focus on upcycling and the use of metal-based catalysts. Finally, the attention shifts to the emergence of new materials with the potential to modernise the plastics economy. Emerging opportunities and challenges are discussed within the context of industrial feasibility.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4041-4070
Number of pages	30
Journal	ChemSusChem
Volume	14
Issue number	19
Early online date	7 Apr 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202100400
Publication status	Published - 5 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank the EPSRC for funding (EP/L016354/1) for a PhD studentship to JP.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

catalysis
chemical recycling
circular economy
polyesters
upcycling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry
General Chemical Engineering
General Materials Science
General Energy

Access to Document

10.1002/cssc.202100400Licence: CC BY

Manuscript_accepted.PDF
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Jones, M..D. and Payne, J. (2021), The Chemical Recycling of Polyesters for a Circular Plastics Economy: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities. ChemSusChem. Accepted Author Manuscript, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202100400. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Accepted author manuscript, 2.27 MB

Cite this

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abstract = "Whilst plastics have played an instrumental role in human development, growing environmental concerns have led to increasing public scrutiny and demands for outright bans. This has stimulated considerable research into renewable alternatives, and more recently, the development of alternative waste management strategies. Herein, the aim was to highlight recent developments in the catalytic chemical recycling of two commercial polyesters, namely poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The concept of chemical recycling is first introduced, and associated opportunities/challenges are discussed within the context of the governing depolymerisation thermodynamics. Chemical recycling methods for PLA and PET are then discussed, with a particular focus on upcycling and the use of metal-based catalysts. Finally, the attention shifts to the emergence of new materials with the potential to modernise the plastics economy. Emerging opportunities and challenges are discussed within the context of industrial feasibility.",

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AU - Jones, Matthew

AU - Payne, Jack

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank the EPSRC for funding (EP/L016354/1) for a PhD studentship to JP.

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AB - Whilst plastics have played an instrumental role in human development, growing environmental concerns have led to increasing public scrutiny and demands for outright bans. This has stimulated considerable research into renewable alternatives, and more recently, the development of alternative waste management strategies. Herein, the aim was to highlight recent developments in the catalytic chemical recycling of two commercial polyesters, namely poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The concept of chemical recycling is first introduced, and associated opportunities/challenges are discussed within the context of the governing depolymerisation thermodynamics. Chemical recycling methods for PLA and PET are then discussed, with a particular focus on upcycling and the use of metal-based catalysts. Finally, the attention shifts to the emergence of new materials with the potential to modernise the plastics economy. Emerging opportunities and challenges are discussed within the context of industrial feasibility.

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KW - chemical recycling

KW - circular economy

KW - polyesters

KW - upcycling

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DO - 10.1002/cssc.202100400

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The Chemical Recycling of Polyesters for a Circular Plastics Economy: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this