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A general strategy for recycling polyester wastes into carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons

Author

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  • Wei Zeng

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yanfei Zhao

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fengtao Zhang

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Rongxiang Li

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Minhao Tang

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaoqian Chang

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ying Wang

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fengtian Wu

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Buxing Han

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhimin Liu

    (Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Chemical recycling of plastic wastes is of great significance for sustainable development, which also represents a largely untapped opportunity for the synthesis of value-added chemicals. Herein, we report a novel and general strategy to degrade polyesters via directly breaking the Calkoxy-O bond by nucleophilic substitution of halide anion of ionic liquids under mild conditions. Combined with hydrogenation over Pd/C, 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bromide can realize the deconstruction of various polyesters including aromatic and aliphatic ones, copolyesters and polyester mixtures into corresponding carboxylic acids and alkanes; meanwhile, tetrabutylphosphonium bromide can also achieve direct decomposition of the polyesters with β-H into carboxylic acids and alkenes under hydrogen- and metal-free conditions. It is found that the hydrogen-bonding interaction between ionic liquid and ester group in polyester enhances the nucleophilicity of halide anion and activates the Calkoxy-O bond. The findings demonstrate how polyester wastes can be a viable feedstock for the production of carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Zeng & Yanfei Zhao & Fengtao Zhang & Rongxiang Li & Minhao Tang & Xiaoqian Chang & Ying Wang & Fengtian Wu & Buxing Han & Zhimin Liu, 2024. "A general strategy for recycling polyester wastes into carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-44604-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44604-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qi Dong & Aditya Dilip Lele & Xinpeng Zhao & Shuke Li & Sichao Cheng & Yueqing Wang & Mingjin Cui & Miao Guo & Alexandra H. Brozena & Ying Lin & Tangyuan Li & Lin Xu & Aileen Qi & Ioannis G. Kevrekidi, 2023. "Depolymerization of plastics by means of electrified spatiotemporal heating," Nature, Nature, vol. 616(7957), pages 488-494, April.
    2. Coralie Jehanno & Jill W. Alty & Martijn Roosen & Steven Meester & Andrew P. Dove & Eugene Y.-X. Chen & Frank A. Leibfarth & Haritz Sardon, 2022. "Critical advances and future opportunities in upcycling commodity polymers," Nature, Nature, vol. 603(7903), pages 803-814, March.
    3. Shengbo Zhang & Qikun Hu & Yu-Xiao Zhang & Haoyue Guo & Yanfen Wu & Mingze Sun & Xingsong Zhu & Jiangang Zhang & Shuyan Gong & Ping Liu & Zhiqiang Niu, 2023. "Depolymerization of polyesters by a binuclear catalyst for plastic recycling," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 965-973, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Minhao Tang & Ji Shen & Yiding Wang & Yanfei Zhao & Tao Gan & Xusheng Zheng & Dingsheng Wang & Buxing Han & Zhimin Liu, 2024. "Highly efficient recycling of polyester wastes to diols using Ru and Mo dual-atom catalyst," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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