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Sustainable polymers from renewable resources

Author

Listed:
  • Yunqing Zhu

    (Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford)

  • Charles Romain

    (Imperial College London)

  • Charlotte K. Williams

    (Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford)

Abstract

Renewable resources are used increasingly in the production of polymers. In particular, monomers such as carbon dioxide, terpenes, vegetable oils and carbohydrates can be used as feedstocks for the manufacture of a variety of sustainable materials and products, including elastomers, plastics, hydrogels, flexible electronics, resins, engineering polymers and composites. Efficient catalysis is required to produce monomers, to facilitate selective polymerizations and to enable recycling or upcycling of waste materials. There are opportunities to use such sustainable polymers in both high-value areas and in basic applications such as packaging. Life-cycle assessment can be used to quantify the environmental benefits of sustainable polymers.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunqing Zhu & Charles Romain & Charlotte K. Williams, 2016. "Sustainable polymers from renewable resources," Nature, Nature, vol. 540(7633), pages 354-362, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:540:y:2016:i:7633:d:10.1038_nature21001
    DOI: 10.1038/nature21001
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    Cited by:

    1. Xin Zhang & Yaohui Cheng & Jingxuan You & Jinming Zhang & Chunchun Yin & Jun Zhang, 2022. "Ultralong phosphorescence cellulose with excellent anti-bacterial, water-resistant and ease-to-process performance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Puck Bos & Linda Ritzen & Sonja van Dam & Ruud Balkenende & Conny Bakker, 2024. "Bio-Based Plastics in Product Design: The State of the Art and Challenges to Overcome," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Konrad, Kai A. & Lommerud, Kjell Erik, 2021. "Effective climate policy needs non-combustion uses for hydrocarbons," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    4. Deshraj Deepak Kapoor & Shilpi Yadav & Ravi Kr. Gupta, 2024. "Comprehensive study of microbial bioplastic: present status and future perspectives for sustainable development," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(9), pages 21985-22011, September.
    5. Mousavi-Avval, Seyed Hashem & Sahoo, Kamalakanta & Nepal, Prakash & Runge, Troy & Bergman, Richard, 2023. "Environmental impacts and techno-economic assessments of biobased products: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    6. Xun Zhang & Wenqi Guo & Chengjian Zhang & Xinghong Zhang, 2023. "A recyclable polyester library from reversible alternating copolymerization of aldehyde and cyclic anhydride," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    7. Tana Tana & Pengfei Han & Aidan J. Brock & Xin Mao & Sarina Sarina & Eric R. Waclawik & Aijun Du & Steven E. Bottle & Huai-Yong Zhu, 2023. "Photocatalytic conversion of sugars to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using aluminium(III) and fulvic acid," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Amy Fitzgerald & Will Proud & Ali Kandemir & Richard J. Murphy & David A. Jesson & Richard S. Trask & Ian Hamerton & Marco L. Longana, 2021. "A Life Cycle Engineering Perspective on Biocomposites as a Solution for a Sustainable Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-25, January.
    9. Badr Moutik & John Summerscales & Jasper Graham-Jones & Richard Pemberton, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment Research Trends and Implications: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-45, September.
    10. Rizki Rinanda & Yunan Sun & Keke Chang & Rini Sulastri & Xiaoqiang Cui & Zhanjun Cheng & Beibei Yan & Guanyi Chen, 2023. "Plastic Waste Management: A Bibliometric Analysis (1992–2022)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-19, December.
    11. Jinbo Zhang & Lihang Jiang & Shaofeng Liu & Junhao Shen & Pierre Braunstein & Yong Shen & Xiaohui Kang & Zhibo Li, 2024. "Bifunctional and recyclable polyesters by chemoselective ring-opening polymerization of a δ-lactone derived from CO2 and butadiene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Andreas Schneider & Thomas B. Lystbæk & Daniel Markthaler & Niels Hansen & Bernhard Hauer, 2024. "Biocatalytic stereocontrolled head-to-tail cyclizations of unbiased terpenes as a tool in chemoenzymatic synthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Nicholas M. Holden & Andrew M. Neill & Jane C. Stout & Derek O’Brien & Michael A. Morris, 2023. "Biocircularity: a Framework to Define Sustainable, Circular Bioeconomy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 77-91, March.
    14. Xiaoqian Wang & Yang Huang & Xiaoyu Xie & Yan Liu & Ziyu Huo & Maverick Lin & Hongliang Xin & Rong Tong, 2023. "Bayesian-optimization-assisted discovery of stereoselective aluminum complexes for ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Baolong Qiu & Mengjie Liu & Xin Qu & Fengying Zhou & Hongwei Xie & Dihua Wang & Lawrence Yoon Suk Lee & Huayi Yin, 2024. "Waste plastics upcycled for high-efficiency H2O2 production and lithium recovery via Ni-Co/carbon nanotubes composites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    16. Dawei Wang & Chuanming Du & Dongdong Feng & Yuting Li & Yu Zhang & Yijun Zhao & Guangbo Zhao, 2019. "The Thermal Swelling Properties of Plant Chemical Alcohol Waste Liquid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-11, November.
    17. Aaldering, Lukas Jan & Leker, Jens & Song, Chie Hoon, 2019. "Uncovering the dynamics of market convergence through M&A," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 95-114.
    18. Daniel H. Weinland & Kevin van der Maas & Yue Wang & Bruno Bottega Pergher & Robert-Jan van Putten & Bing Wang & Gert-Jan M. Gruter, 2022. "Overcoming the low reactivity of biobased, secondary diols in polyester synthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    19. Hua Zhou & Yue Ren & Bingxin Yao & Zhenhua Li & Ming Xu & Lina Ma & Xianggui Kong & Lirong Zheng & Mingfei Shao & Haohong Duan, 2023. "Scalable electrosynthesis of commodity chemicals from biomass by suppressing non-Faradaic transformations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    20. Xun Zhang & Ximin Feng & Wenqi Guo & Chengjian Zhang & Xinghong Zhang, 2024. "Chemically recyclable polyvinyl chloride-like plastics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    21. Erfan Oliaei & Peter Olsén & Tom Lindström & Lars A. Berglund, 2022. "Highly reinforced and degradable lignocellulose biocomposites by polymerization of new polyester oligomers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.

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