Chemical Recycling of Polyesters and Polycarbonates: Why Is Zinc(II) Such an Effective Depolymerization Catalyst?

ABSTRACT: Effective polymer recycling is essential to reduce plastic pollution; catalytic polymer recycling to monomer is particularly attractive, as it could operate over multiple closed-loop cycles. Aliphatic polyesters and carbonates show properties that compete with current plastics and can be depolymerized to 6- and 7-membered cyclic ester or carbonate monomers. Nonetheless, the rules governing recycling catalyst selection are unclear. Here, Zn(II), Co(II), Mg(II), Sn(II), Ca(II), Ba(II), Y(III) and Bi(III) 2-ethyl hexanoate catalysts are compared for the chemical recycling of 6 different oxygenated polymers, in bulk, at low catalyst loadings (1:100 to 1:1000) and temperatures (90-170 °C). All metals are selective for recycling to monomer but show clear differences in rates; the Zn(II) catalyst

SUBMITTER: McGuire TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12636022 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature