Polymers without Petrochemicals: Sustainable Routes to Conventional Monomers

Next-generation all-organic composites: A sustainable successor to organic-inorganic hybrid materials

This Review presents an overview of all-organic nanocomposites, a sustainable alternative to organic-inorganic hybrids. All-organic nanocomposites contain nanocellulose, nanochitin, and aramid nanofibers as highly rigid reinforcing fillers. They offer superior mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics suitable for diverse applications. The Review discusses various methods for preparing the organic nanofillers, including top-down and bottom-up approaches. It highlights in situ polymerization as the preferred method for incorporating these nanomaterials into polymer matrices to achieve homogeneous filler dispersion, a crucial factor for realizing desired performance. Furthermore, the Review explores several applications of all-organic nanocomposites in diverse fields including food packaging, performance-advantaged plastics, and electronic materials. Future research directions-developing sustainable production methods, expanding biomedical applications, and enhancing resistance against heat, chemicals, and radiation of all-organic nanocomposites to permit their use in extreme environments-are explored. This Review offers insights into the potential of all-organic nanocomposites to drive sustainable growth while meeting the demand for high-performance materials across various industries.

CO2-Free Ethylene Oxide Production via Liquid-Phase Epoxidation with Fe2O3/MSM Catalyst

In this study, we present an approach for ethylene oxide (EO) production that addresses environmental concerns by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. Our catalyst, Fe2O3/MSM, was synthesized using a hydrothermal method, incorporating Fe2O3 nanoparticles into a well-structured mesoporous silica matrix (MSM). We selected peracetic acid as the oxidant, enabling CO2-free EO production while yielding valuable by-products such as acetic acid, monoethylene glycol, and diethylene glycol. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X- ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses confirmed the heteroatom structure of the catalysts and porosity, while Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis provided insights into its morphology. Then, the synthesized catalyst was used in the liquid-phase epoxidation of ethylene for EO production. Our systematic experiments involved varying critical parameters such as temperature, ethylene to oxidant ratio, catalyst dosage, and solvent to optimize EO selectivity and ethylene conversion. The results of this study demonstrated an 80.2 % ethylene conversion to EO with an EO selectivity of 87.6 %. The production process yielded valuable by-products without CO2 emissions, highlighting its environmental friendliness.

Sustainable Polymers with High Performance and Infinite Scalability

Our society has been pursuing high-performance biodegradable polymers made from facile methods and readily available monomers. Here, we demonstrate a library of enzyme-degradable polymers with desirable properties from the first reported step polyaddition of diamines, COS, and diacrylates. The polymers contain in-chain ester and thiourethane groups, which can serve as lipase-degradation and hydrogen-bonding physical crosslinking points, respectively, resulting in possible biodegradability as well as upgraded mechanical and thermal properties. Also, the properties of the polymers are scalable due to the versatile method and the wide variety of monomers. We obtain 46 polymers with tunable performance covering high-Tm crystalline plastics, thermoplastic elastomers, and amorphous plastics by regulating polymer structure. Additionally, the polymerization method is highly efficient, atom-economical, quantitatively yield, metal- and even catalyst-free. Overall, the polymers are promising green materials given their degradability, simple and modular synthesis, remarkable and tunable properties, and readily available monomers.

Bottom-Up Synthesized Glucan Materials: Opportunities from Applied Biocatalysis

Linear d-glucans are natural polysaccharides of simple chemical structure. They are comprised of d-glucosyl units linked by a single type of glycosidic bond. Noncovalent interactions within, and between, the d-glucan chains give rise to a broad variety of macromolecular nanostructures that can assemble into crystalline-organized materials of tunable morphology. Structure design and functionalization of d-glucans for diverse material applications largely relies on top-down processing and chemical derivatization of naturally derived starting materials. The top-down approach encounters critical limitations in efficiency, selectivity, and flexibility. Bottom-up approaches of d-glucan synthesis offer different, and often more precise, ways of polymer structure control and provide means of functional diversification widely inaccessible to top-down routes of polysaccharide material processing. Here the natural and engineered enzymes (glycosyltransferases, glycoside hydrolases and phosphorylases, glycosynthases) for d-glucan polymerization are described and the use of applied biocatalysis for the bottom-up assembly of specific d-glucan structures is shown. Advanced material applications of the resulting polymeric products are further shown and their important role in the development of sustainable macromolecular materials in a bio-based circular economy is discussed.

Structural Design of Single-Atom Catalysts for Enhancing Petrochemical Catalytic Reaction Process

Petroleum, as the "lifeblood" of industrial development, is the important energy source and raw material. The selective transformation of petroleum into high-end chemicals is of great significance, but still exists enormous challenges. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with 100% atom utilization and homogeneous active sites, promise a broad application in petrochemical processes. Herein, the research systematically summarizes the recent research progress of SACs in petrochemical catalytic reaction, proposes the role of structural design of SACs in enhancing catalytic performance, elucidates the catalytic reaction mechanisms of SACs in the conversion of petrochemical processes, and reveals the high activity origins of SACs at the atomic scale. Finally, the key challenges are summarized and an outlook on the design, identification of active sites, and the appropriate application of artificial intelligence technology is provided for achieving scale-up application of SACs in petrochemical process.

From Waste to Value: Recent Insights into Producing Vanillin from Lignin

Vanillin, one of the most widely used and appreciated flavoring agents worldwide, is the main constituent of vanilla bean extract, obtained from the seed pods of various members belonging to the Orchidaceae family. Due to the great demand in the food confectionery industry, as well as in the perfume industry, medicine, and more, the majority of vanillin used today is produced synthetically, and only less than one percent of the world's vanilla flavoring market comes directly from the traditional natural sources. The increasing global demand for vanillin requires alternative and overall sustainable new production methods, and the recovery from biobased polymers, like lignin, is an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical synthesis. The present review provides firstly an overview of the different types of vanillin, followed by a description of the main differences between natural and synthetic vanillin, their preparation, the market of interest, and the authentication issues and the related analytical techniques. Then, the review explores the real potentialities of lignin for vanillin production, presenting firstly the well-assessed classical methods and moving towards the most recent promising approaches through chemical, biotechnological and photocatalytic methodologies, together with the challenges and the principal issues associated with each technique.

Synthesis of Poly(δ-caprolactone) via Bis(phenolate) Rare-Earth Metal Complexes Mediated Ring-Opening Polymerization and Its Chemical Recycling

New amine-amino-bis(phenolate) ligands (H2LtBu and H2LCl) with a cyclic tertiary amine (pyrrolidine) as a side arm and tBu or Cl group on the phenolate ring have been prepared. The alkane elimination reaction between these free ligands and rare-earth tris(alkyl)s Ln(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2 afforded the corresponding silylalkyl complexes LtBuLnCH2SiMe3(THF) (Ln = Y (1), Lu (2)) and LClYCH2SiMe3(THF) (3), where the solid-state structure of complex 1 was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. These rare-earth metal complexes have been utilized as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of biobased δ-caprolactone (δCL), either in the absence or presence of alcohols, to give poly(δ-caprolactone) (PδCL) with controlled molecular weight and narrow distribution (Đ < 1.2). The polymerization kinetics of δCL in toluene with yttrium complexes 1 and 3 were investigated. Oligomers prepared with complex 3 alone and the 3/PhCHMeOH binary catalyst system were well characterized with 1H NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS). Moreover, chemical recycling of the resultant PδCL was achieved with high yield in a solution at ambient temperature (>92%) or in bulk at 130 °C (>82%) by using commercial KOtBu as a promotor.

Leveraging the Proximity and Distribution of Cu-Cs Sites for Direct Conversion of Methanol to Esters/Aldehydes

Methanol serves as a versatile building-block for various commodity chemicals, and the development of industrially promising strategies for its conversion remains the ultimate goal in methanol chemistry. In this study, we design a dual Cu-Cs catalytic system that enables a one-step direct conversion of methanol and methyl acetate/ethanol into high value-added esters/aldehydes, with customized chain length and saturation by leveraging the proximity and distribution of Cu-Cs sites. Cu-Cs at a millimeter-scale intimacy triggers methanol dehydrogenation and condensation, involving proton transfer, aldol formation, and aldol condensation, to obtain unsaturated esters and aldehydes with selectivities of 76.3 % and 31.1 %, respectively. Cu-Cs at a micrometer-scale intimacy significantly promotes mass transfer of intermediates across catalyst interfaces and their subsequent hydrogenation to saturated esters and aldehydes with selectivities of 67.6 % and 93.1 %, respectively. Conversely, Cu-Cs at a nanometer-scale intimacy alters reaction pathway with a similar energy barrier for the rate-determining step, but blocks the acidic-basic sites and diverts the reaction to byproducts. More importantly, an unprecedented quadruple tandem catalytic production of methyl methacrylate (MMA) is achieved by further tailoring Cu and Cs distribution across the reaction bed in the configuration of Cu-Cs||Cs, outperforming the existing industrial processes and saving at least 15 % of production costs.

Rapeseed Oil as Feedstock for Bio-Based Thermoset Foams Obtained via Michael Addition Reaction

Rapeseed oil was used to develop thermoset foams via Michael addition reaction by mixing two liquid components, Michael donor and Michael acceptor. The foaming of the curing thermoset was achieved by the physical blowing agent which expanded from the reacting foam mass due to an exothermic curing reaction. The influence of the rapeseed oil-based Michael donor functionality on the foaming process and the characteristics of the obtained thermoset foams was studied. The 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine catalyst's influence on the foaming process kinetics was studied using FOAMAT equipment. The curing of the bio-based thermoset was analysed using a dielectric polarisation sensor. The morphology of the developed thermoset foam was analysed using a scanning electron microscope and the obtained foams were characterized using TGA, DSC, DMA and mechanical analysis tests. A direct correlation between the thermoset foam polymer crosslinking density and foaming reactivity, mechanical properties and glass transition temperature were determined. Obtained rapeseed oil based thermoset foams had a relatively low thermal conductivity of 33.9-35.4 mW/(m·K) which allows their use as thermal insulation material in civil engineering applications.

Bulky, electron-rich, renewable: analogues of Beller's phosphine for cross-couplings

In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the conversion of biomass into renewable chemicals, yet the range of value-added products that can be formed from biomass remains relatively small. Herein, we demonstrate that molecules available from biomass serve as viable starting materials for the synthesis of phosphine ligands, which can be used in homogeneous catalysis. Specifically, we prepared renewable analogues of Beller's ligand (di(1-adamantyl)-n-butylphosphine, cataCXium® A), which is widely used in homogeneous catalysis. Our new renewable phosphine ligands facilitate Pd-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura, Stille, and Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reactions with high yields, and our catalytic results can be rationalized based on the stereoelectronic properties of the ligands. The new phosphine ligands generate catalytic systems that can be applied for the late-stage functionalization of commercial drugs.

Designing biodegradable alternatives to commodity polymers

The development and widespread adoption of commodity polymers changed societal landscapes on a global scale. Without the everyday materials used in packaging, textiles, construction and medicine, our lives would be unrecognisable. Through decades of use, however, the environmental impact of waste plastics has become grimly apparent, leading to sustained pressure from environmentalists, consumers and scientists to deliver replacement materials. The need to reduce the environmental impact of commodity polymers is beyond question, yet the reality of replacing these ubiquitous materials with sustainable alternatives is complex. In this tutorial review, we will explore the concepts of sustainable design and biodegradability, as applied to the design of synthetic polymers intended for use at scale. We will provide an overview of the potential biodegradation pathways available to polymers in different environments, and highlight the importance of considering these pathways when designing new materials. We will identify gaps in our collective understanding of the production, use and fate of biodegradable polymers: from identifying appropriate feedstock materials, to considering changes needed to production and recycling practices, and to improving our understanding of the environmental fate of the materials we produce. We will discuss the current standard methods for the determination of biodegradability, where lengthy experimental timescales often frustrate the development of new materials, and highlight the need to develop better tools and models to assess the degradation rate of polymers in different environments.

Covalent Adaptable Networks through Dynamic N,S-Acetal Chemistry: Toward Recyclable CO2-Based Thermosets

Finding new chemistry platforms for easily recyclable polymers has become a key challenge to face environmental concerns and the growing plastics demand. Here, we report a dynamic chemistry between CO2-sourced alkylidene oxazolidones and thiols, delivering circular non-isocyanate polyurethane networks embedding N,S-acetal bonds. The production of oxazolidone monomers from CO2 is facile and scalable starting from cheap reagents. Their copolymerization with a polythiol occurs under mild conditions in the presence of a catalytic amount of acid to furnish polymer networks. The polymer structure is easily tuned by virtue of monomer design, translating into a wide panel of mechanical properties similar to commodity plastics, ranging from PDMS-like elastomers [with Young's modulus (E) of 2.9 MPa and elongation at break (εbreak) of 159%] to polystyrene-like rigid plastics (with E = 2400 MPa, εbreak = 3%). The highly dissociative nature of the N,S-acetal bonds is demonstrated and exploited to offer three different recycling scenarios to the thermosets: (1) mechanical recycling by compression molding, extrusion, or injection molding─with multiple recycling (at least 10 times) without any material property deterioration, (2) chemical recycling through depolymerization, followed by repolymerization, also applicable to composites, and (3) upcycling of two different oxazolidone-based thermosets into a single one with distinct properties. This work highlights a new facile and scalable chemical platform for designing highly dynamic polymer networks containing elusive oxazolidone motifs. The versatility of this chemistry shows great potential for the preparation of materials (including composites) of tuneable structures and properties, with multiple end-of-life scenarios.

Sustainable formulation polymers for home, beauty and personal care: challenges and opportunities

As society moves towards a net-zero future, the need to adopt more sustainable polymers is well understood, and as well as plastics, less visible formulation polymers should also be included within this shift. As researchers, industries and consumers move towards more sustainable products there is a clear need to define what sustainability means in fast moving consumer goods and how it can be considered at the design stage. In this perspective key challenges in achieving sustainable formulation polymers are highlighted, and opportunities to overcome them are presented.

Synthesis and evaluation of antibacterial activity of transition metal-oleoyl amide complexes

Recent studies show that some metal ions, injure microbial cells in various ways due to membrane breakdown, protein malfunction, and oxidative stress. Metal complexes are suited for creating novel antibacterial medications due to their distinct mechanisms of action and the variety of three-dimensional geometries they can acquire. In this Perspective, the present study focused on new antibacterial strategies based on metal oleoyl amide complexes. Thus, oleoyl amides ligand (fatty hydroxamic acid and fatty hydrazide hydrate) with the transition metal ions named Ag (I), Co (II), Cu (II), Ni (II) and Sn (II) complexes were successfully synthesized in this study. The metals- oleoyl amide were characterized using elemental analysis, and fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antibacterial effect of metals- oleoyl amide complexes was investigated for Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) by analysing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that metal-oleoyl amide complexes have high antibacterial activity at low concentrations. This study inferred that metal oleoyl amide complexes could be utilised as a promising therapeutic antibacterial agent.

Modular Alcohol Click Chemistry Enables Facile Synthesis of Recyclable Polymers with Tunable Structure

The facile synthesis of chemically recyclable polymers derived from sustainable feedstocks presents enormous challenges. Here, we develop a novel, modular, and efficient click reaction for connecting primary, secondary, or tertiary alcohols with activated alkenes via a bridge molecule of carbonyl sulfide (COS). The click reaction is successfully applied to synthesize a series of recyclable polymers by the step polyaddition of diols, diacrylates, and COS. Diols and diacrylates are common chemicals and can be produced from biorenewable sources, and COS is released as the industrial waste. In addition to sustainable monomers, the approach is atom-economical, wide in scope, metal-free, and performed under mild conditions, affording unprecedented polymers with nearly quantitative yields. The produced polymers also possess predesigned and widely tunable structure owing to the versatility of our method and the broad variety of monomers. The in-chain thiocarbonate and ester polar groups can play as breakpoints, allowing these polymers to be easily recycled. Overall, the polymers have broad prospects for green materials given their facile synthesis, readily available feedstocks, desirable performance, and chemical recyclability.

Elucidation of Substantial Differences in Ring-Opening Polymerization Outcomes from Subtle Variation of Glucose Carbonate-Based Monomer Substitution Patterns and Substituent Types

The substituents present upon five-membered bicyclic glucose carbonate monomers were found to greatly affect the reactivities and regioselectivities during ring-opening polymerization (ROP), which contrast in significant and interesting ways from previous studies on similar systems, while also leading to predictable effects on the thermal properties of the resulting polycarbonates. Polymerization behaviors were probed for a series of five five-membered bicyclic 2,3-glucose-carbonate monomers having 4,6-ether, -carbonate, or -sulfonyl urethane protecting groups, under catalysis with three different organobase catalysts. Irrespective of the organobase catalyst employed, regioregular polycarbonates were obtained via ROP of monomers with ether substituents, while the backbone connectivities of polymers derived from monomers with carbonate protecting groups suffered transcarbonylation reactions, resulting in irregular backbone connectivities and broad molar mass distributions. The sulfonyl urethane-protected monomers were unable to undergo organobase-catalyzed ROP, possibly due to the acidity of the proton in urethane functionality. The thermal behaviors of polycarbonates with ether and carbonate pendant groups were investigated in terms of thermal stability and glass transition temperature (Tg). A two-stage thermal decomposition was observed when tert-butyloxycarbonyl (BOC) groups were employed as protecting side chains, while all other polycarbonates presented high thermal stabilities with a single-stage thermal degradation. Tg was greatly affected by side-chain bulkiness, with values ranging from 39 to 139 °C. These fundamental findings of glucose-based polycarbonates may facilitate the development of next-generation sustainable highly functional materials.

Underwater Bonding with a Biobased Adhesive from Tannic Acid and Zein Protein

Herein are presented several adhesive formulations made from zein protein and tannic acid that can bind to a wide range of surfaces underwater. Higher performance comes from more tannic acid than zein, whereas dry bonding required the opposite case of more zein than tannic acid. Each adhesive works best in the environment that it was designed and optimized for. We show underwater adhesion experiments done on different substrates and in different waters (sea water, saline solution, tap water, deionized water). Surprisingly, the water type does not influence the performance to a great deal but the substrate type does. An additional unexpected result was bond strength increasing over time when exposed to water, contradicting general experiments of working with glues. Initial adhesion underwater was stronger compared to benchtop adhesion, suggesting that water helps to make the glue stick. Temperature effects were determined, indicating maximum bonding at about 30 °C and then another increase at higher temperatures. Once the adhesive was placed underwater, a protective skin formed on the surface, keeping water from entering the rest of the material immediately. The shape of the adhesive could be manipulated easily and, once in place, the skin could be broken to induce faster bond formation. Data indicated that underwater adhesion was predominantly induced by tannic acid, cross-linking within the bulk for adhesion and to the substrate surfaces. The zein protein provided a less polar matrix that helped to keep the tannic acid molecules in place. These studies provide new plant-based adhesives for working underwater and for creating a more sustainable environment.

Engineering Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities for Lignocellulosic Biorefineries: Leveraging Biobased Polymer Production

Alternative polymer feedstocks are highly desirable to address environmental, social, and security concerns associated with petrochemical-based materials. Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) has emerged as one critical feedstock in this regard because it is an abundant and ubiquitous renewable resource. LCB can be deconstructed to generate valuable fuels, chemicals, and small molecules/oligomers that are amenable to modification and polymerization. However, the diversity of LCB complicates the evaluation of biorefinery concepts in areas including process scale-up, production outputs, plant economics, and life-cycle management. We discuss aspects of current LCB biorefinery research with a focus on the major process stages, including feedstock selection, fractionation/deconstruction, and characterization, along with product purification, functionalization, and polymerization to manufacture valuable macromolecular materials. We highlight opportunities to valorize underutilized and complex feedstocks, leverage advanced characterization techniques to predict and manage biorefinery outputs, and increase the fraction of biomass converted into valuable products.

Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization for the Synthesis of Terpenoid-Based Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) made from norbornene-functionalized terpenoid-based monomers are reported as a possible alternative to the conventional petrochemically based PSAs. For this, tetrahydrogeranyl, menthyl, and isobornyl norbornenate monomers, with a renewable carbon content up to 72%, are synthesized and copolymerized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with cyclooctadiene and 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid. ROMP enables a much faster and controlled polymerization process in comparison to free radical polymerization techniques when targeting high molecular weights and therefore unlocks a potential to design a unique class of PSA materials. The moduli at bonding and debonding frequencies of the obtained PSAs are plotted in the Chang classification system and are used to predict their adhesive performance. Tack and peel measurements indicate that the terpenoid-based norbornenate formulations show similar adhesive properties in comparison to the previously investigated acrylic counterparts.