Title: Dual Recycling of Depolymerization Catalyst and Biodegradable Polyester that Markedly Outperforms Polyolefins

Journal Article · · Angewandte Chemie
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Department of Chemistry School of Chemical Engineering Dalian University of Technology Dalian 116024 China
  2. Department of Chemistry Colorado State University Fort Collins CO 80523–1872 USA

Abstract Chemically recyclable, circular polymers continue to attract increasing attention, but rendering both catalysts for depolymerization and high‐performance polymers recyclable is a more sustainable yet challenging goal. Here we introduce a dual catalyst/polymer recycling system in that recyclable inorganic phosphomolybdic acid catalyzes selective depolymerization of high‐ceiling‐temperature biodegradable poly(δ‐valerolactone) in bulk phase, which, upon reaching suitable molecular weight, exhibits outstanding mechanical performance with a high tensile strength of ≈66.6 MPa, fracture strain of ≈904 %, and toughness of ≈308 MJ m −3 , and thus markedly outperforms commodity polyolefins, recovering its monomer in pure state and quantitative yield at only 100 °C. In sharp contrast, the uncatalyzed depolymerization not only requires a high temperature of >310 °C but is also low yielding and non‐selective. Importantly, the recovered monomer can be repolymerized as is to reproduce the same polymer, thereby closing the circular loop, and the recycled catalyst can be reused repeatedly for depolymerization runs without loss of its catalytic activity and efficiency.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0022290
OSTI ID:
1973889
Journal Information:
Angewandte Chemie, Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 135; ISSN 0044-8249
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English

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