Selective chemical recycling of polyhydroxybutyrate into high-value hydroxy acid using the taurine organocatalyst.

ABSTRACT: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are receiving significant attention due to their biobased origin, biodegradability, and excellent barrier properties. However, their high cost compared to traditional plastics necessitates the development of recycling technologies to retain their value post-use. Despite being thermoplastics, PHAs are difficult to recycle mechanically due to their narrow processing window, particularly for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and conventional chemical recycling routes often lead to non-selective degradation and dehydration to crotonic acid, yielding complex product mixtures with limited valorization potential. In contrast, this study presents a selective chemical recycling method for PHB that suppresses dehydration pathways by using naturally occurring taurine as an organ

SUBMITTER: Gabirondo E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12264751 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature