Versatile Chemical Recycling Strategies: Value-Added Chemicals from Polyester and Polycarbonate Waste

Jack M. Payne; Muhammad Kamran; Matthew G. Davidson; Matthew D. Jones

doi:10.1002/cssc.202200255

Versatile Chemical Recycling Strategies: Value-Added Chemicals from Polyester and Polycarbonate Waste

Jack M. Payne, Muhammad Kamran, Matthew G. Davidson, Matthew D. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

51 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Zn^II-complexes bearing half-salan ligands were exploited in the mild and selective chemical upcycling of various commercial polyesters and polycarbonates. Remarkably, we report the first example of discrete metal-mediated poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (BPA-PC) methanolysis being appreciably active at room temperature. Indeed, Zn(2)₂ and Zn(2)Et achieved complete BPA-PC consumption within 12–18 mins in 2-Me-THF, noting high bisphenol A (BPA) yields (S_BPA=85–91 %) within 2–4 h. Further kinetic analysis found such catalysts to possess k_app values of 0.28±0.040 and 0.47±0.049 min⁻¹ respectively at 4 wt%, the highest reported to date. A completely circular upcycling approach to plastic waste was demonstrated through the production of several renewable poly(ester-amide)s (PEAs), based on a terephthalamide monomer derived from bottle-grade poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which exhibited excellent thermal properties.

Original language	English
Article number	e202200255
Journal	ChemSusChem
Volume	15
Issue number	8
Early online date	3 Feb 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202200255
Publication status	Published - 22 Apr 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We wish to thank the EPSRC for funding and the University of Bath and MC for use of their analysis facilities. We would like to thank the EPSRC for funding (EP/L016354/1) for a PhD studentship to J.P and EP/R027129/1 for MK and MGD. 2

Funding

We wish to thank the EPSRC for funding and the University of Bath and MC for use of their analysis facilities. We would like to thank the EPSRC for funding (EP/L016354/1) for a PhD studentship to J.P and EP/R027129/1 for MK and MGD. 2

Keywords

chemical upcycling
green chemistry
homogeneous catalysis
polycarbonates
polyesters

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry
General Chemical Engineering
General Materials Science
General Energy

UN SDGs

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

Access to Document

10.1002/cssc.202200255Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{0b794c445b354f9e96e637b55449e652,

title = "Versatile Chemical Recycling Strategies: Value-Added Chemicals from Polyester and Polycarbonate Waste",

abstract = "ZnII-complexes bearing half-salan ligands were exploited in the mild and selective chemical upcycling of various commercial polyesters and polycarbonates. Remarkably, we report the first example of discrete metal-mediated poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (BPA-PC) methanolysis being appreciably active at room temperature. Indeed, Zn(2)2 and Zn(2)Et achieved complete BPA-PC consumption within 12–18 mins in 2-Me-THF, noting high bisphenol A (BPA) yields (SBPA=85–91 %) within 2–4 h. Further kinetic analysis found such catalysts to possess kapp values of 0.28±0.040 and 0.47±0.049 min−1 respectively at 4 wt%, the highest reported to date. A completely circular upcycling approach to plastic waste was demonstrated through the production of several renewable poly(ester-amide)s (PEAs), based on a terephthalamide monomer derived from bottle-grade poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which exhibited excellent thermal properties.",

keywords = "chemical upcycling, green chemistry, homogeneous catalysis, polycarbonates, polyesters",

author = "Payne, {Jack M.} and Muhammad Kamran and Davidson, {Matthew G.} and Jones, {Matthew D.}",

note = "Funding Information: We wish to thank the EPSRC for funding and the University of Bath and MC for use of their analysis facilities. We would like to thank the EPSRC for funding (EP/L016354/1) for a PhD studentship to J.P and EP/R027129/1 for MK and MGD. 2 ",

year = "2022",

month = apr,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1002/cssc.202200255",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

journal = "ChemSusChem",

issn = "1864-5631",

publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag",

number = "8",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Versatile Chemical Recycling Strategies

T2 - Value-Added Chemicals from Polyester and Polycarbonate Waste

AU - Payne, Jack M.

AU - Kamran, Muhammad

AU - Davidson, Matthew G.

AU - Jones, Matthew D.

N1 - Funding Information: We wish to thank the EPSRC for funding and the University of Bath and MC for use of their analysis facilities. We would like to thank the EPSRC for funding (EP/L016354/1) for a PhD studentship to J.P and EP/R027129/1 for MK and MGD. 2

PY - 2022/4/22

Y1 - 2022/4/22

N2 - ZnII-complexes bearing half-salan ligands were exploited in the mild and selective chemical upcycling of various commercial polyesters and polycarbonates. Remarkably, we report the first example of discrete metal-mediated poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (BPA-PC) methanolysis being appreciably active at room temperature. Indeed, Zn(2)2 and Zn(2)Et achieved complete BPA-PC consumption within 12–18 mins in 2-Me-THF, noting high bisphenol A (BPA) yields (SBPA=85–91 %) within 2–4 h. Further kinetic analysis found such catalysts to possess kapp values of 0.28±0.040 and 0.47±0.049 min−1 respectively at 4 wt%, the highest reported to date. A completely circular upcycling approach to plastic waste was demonstrated through the production of several renewable poly(ester-amide)s (PEAs), based on a terephthalamide monomer derived from bottle-grade poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which exhibited excellent thermal properties.

AB - ZnII-complexes bearing half-salan ligands were exploited in the mild and selective chemical upcycling of various commercial polyesters and polycarbonates. Remarkably, we report the first example of discrete metal-mediated poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (BPA-PC) methanolysis being appreciably active at room temperature. Indeed, Zn(2)2 and Zn(2)Et achieved complete BPA-PC consumption within 12–18 mins in 2-Me-THF, noting high bisphenol A (BPA) yields (SBPA=85–91 %) within 2–4 h. Further kinetic analysis found such catalysts to possess kapp values of 0.28±0.040 and 0.47±0.049 min−1 respectively at 4 wt%, the highest reported to date. A completely circular upcycling approach to plastic waste was demonstrated through the production of several renewable poly(ester-amide)s (PEAs), based on a terephthalamide monomer derived from bottle-grade poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which exhibited excellent thermal properties.

KW - chemical upcycling

KW - green chemistry

KW - homogeneous catalysis

KW - polycarbonates

KW - polyesters

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125102817&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/cssc.202200255

DO - 10.1002/cssc.202200255

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85125102817

SN - 1864-5631

VL - 15

JO - ChemSusChem

JF - ChemSusChem

IS - 8

M1 - e202200255

ER -

Versatile Chemical Recycling Strategies: Value-Added Chemicals from Polyester and Polycarbonate Waste

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

AP19: Developing Catalyst Strategies for a Truly Circular Plastic Economy

Cite this

Versatile Chemical Recycling Strategies: Value-Added Chemicals from Polyester and Polycarbonate Waste

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

AP19: Developing Catalyst Strategies for a Truly Circular Plastic Economy

Cite this