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Li J, Ma HP, Zhao G, Huang G, Sun W, Peng C. Plastic Waste Conversion by Leveraging Renewable Photo/Electro-Catalytic Technologies. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202301352. [PMID: 38226954 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Plastics have revolutionized our lives; however, the exponential growth of their usage has led to a global crisis. More sustainable strategies are needed to address this dilemma and transform the plastics economy from a linearity to a circular model. Herein, we systematically summarize the recent progress in renewable energy-driven plastic conversion strategies, including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and their integration. By introducing the significant works, the design principles, mechanisms, and system regulations, we decipher and compare the various aspects of plastic conversion. These approaches show high reactivity and selectivity under environmentally benign conditions and provide alternative reaction pathways for plastic conversion. Plastic upcycling as a chemical feedstock can yield value-added chemicals and fuels, contributing to the establishment of a sustainable and circular economy. Additionally, several innovations in reaction engineering and system designs are presented. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of sustainable energy-driven plastic conversion technologies are comprehensively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianan Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Tiandi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Hong-Peng Ma
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shaan Xi, 710072, P. R. China
| | - Guoping Zhao
- Zhejiang Tiandi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Guangfa Huang
- Zhejiang Tiandi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311121, P. R. China
| | - Wenbo Sun
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, P. R. China
| | - Chong Peng
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
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Fang DX, Chen MJ, Zeng FR, Guo SQ, He L, Liu BW, Huang SC, Zhao HB, Wang YZ. Self-evolutionary recycling of flame-retardant polyurethane foam enabled by controllable catalytic cleavage. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024. [PMID: 38742392 DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00039k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Polyurethane (PU) foams, pivotal in modern life, face challenges suh as fire hazards and environmental waste burdens. The current reliance of PU on potentially ecotoxic halogen-/phosphorus-based flame retardants impedes large-scale material recycling. Here, our demonstrated controllable catalytic cracking strategy, using cesium salts, enables self-evolving recycling of flame-retardant PU. The incorporation of cesium citrates facilitates efficient urethane bond cleavage at low temperatures (160 °C), promoting effective recycling, while encouraging pyrolytic rearrangement of isocyanates into char at high temperatures (300 °C) for enhanced PU fire safety. Even in the absence of halogen/phosphorus components, this foam exhibits a substantial increase in ignition time (+258.8%) and a significant reduction in total smoke release (-79%). This flame-retardant foam can be easily recycled into high-quality polyol under mild conditions, 60 °C lower than that for the pure foam. Notably, the trace amounts of cesium gathered in recycled polyols stimulate the regenerated PU to undergo self-evolution, improving both flame-retardancy and mechanical properties. Our controllable catalytic cracking strategy paves the way for the self-evolutionary recycling of high-performance firefighting materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Xuan Fang
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Ming-Jun Chen
- School of Science, Xihua University, Chengdu, 610039, China
| | - Fu-Rong Zeng
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Shuai-Qi Guo
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Lei He
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Bo-Wen Liu
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | | | - Hai-Bo Zhao
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
| | - Yu-Zhong Wang
- College of Architecture and Environment, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
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Honda S, Odelius K, Sardon H. Organomediated polymerization. Commun Chem 2024; 7:62. [PMID: 38514785 PMCID: PMC10957973 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01134-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Honda
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
| | - Karin Odelius
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 56-58, 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haritz Sardon
- POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Department of Polymers and Advanced Materials: Physics, Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country. UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20018, Spain
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Minami Y, Imamura S, Matsuyama N, Nakajima Y, Yoshida M. Catalytic thiolation-depolymerization-like decomposition of oxyphenylene-type super engineering plastics via selective carbon-oxygen main chain cleavages. Commun Chem 2024; 7:37. [PMID: 38378901 PMCID: PMC10879179 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01120-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
As the effective use of carbon resources has become a pressing societal issue, the importance of chemical recycling of plastics has increased. The catalytic chemical decomposition for plastics is a promising approach for creating valuable products under efficient and mild conditions. Although several commodity and engineering plastics have been applied, the decompositions of stable resins composed of strong main chains such as polyamides, thermoset resins, and super engineering plastics are underdeveloped. Especially, super engineering plastics that have high heat resistance, chemical resistance, and low solubility are nearly unexplored. In addition, many super engineering plastics are composed of robust aromatic ethers, which are difficult to cleave. Herein, we report the catalytic depolymerization-like chemical decomposition of oxyphenylene-based super engineering plastics such as polyetheretherketone and polysulfone using thiols via selective carbon-oxygen main chain cleavage to form electron-deficient arenes with sulfur functional groups and bisphenols. The catalyst combination of a bulky phosphazene base P4-tBu with inorganic bases such as tripotassium phosphate enabled smooth decomposition. This method could be utilized with carbon- or glass fiber-enforced polyetheretherketone materials and a consumer resin. The sulfur functional groups in one product could be transformed to amino and sulfonium groups and fluorine by using suitable catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Minami
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry (IRC3), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan.
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan.
| | - Sae Imamura
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry (IRC3), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Nao Matsuyama
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry (IRC3), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Yumiko Nakajima
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry (IRC3), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Masaru Yoshida
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry (IRC3), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8565, Japan
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Lohmann V, Jones GR, Truong NP, Anastasaki A. The thermodynamics and kinetics of depolymerization: what makes vinyl monomer regeneration feasible? Chem Sci 2024; 15:832-853. [PMID: 38239674 PMCID: PMC10793647 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05143a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Depolymerization is potentially a highly advantageous method of recycling plastic waste which could move the world closer towards a truly circular polymer economy. However, depolymerization remains challenging for many polymers with all-carbon backbones. Fundamental understanding and consideration of both the kinetics and thermodynamics are essential in order to develop effective new depolymerization systems that could overcome this problem, as the feasibility of monomer generation can be drastically altered by tuning the reaction conditions. This perspective explores the underlying thermodynamics and kinetics governing radical depolymerization of addition polymers by revisiting pioneering work started in the mid-20th century and demonstrates its connection to exciting recent advances which report depolymerization reaching near-quantitative monomer regeneration at much lower temperatures than seen previously. Recent catalytic approaches to monomer regeneration are also explored, highlighting that this nascent chemistry could potentially revolutionize depolymerization-based polymer recycling in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Lohmann
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Glen R Jones
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5 8093 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Nghia P Truong
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5 8093 Zürich Switzerland
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University 399 Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3152 Australia
| | - Athina Anastasaki
- Laboratory of Polymeric Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5 8093 Zürich Switzerland
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