Emerging Trends in Closed‐Loop Recycling Polymers: Monomer Design and Catalytic Bulk Depolymerization

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 29; no. 23; pp. e202203635 - n/a
• Main Authors: Liu, Ye, Lu, Xiao‐Bing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 21.04.2023
• Subjects: bulk depolymerization; Bulk polymerization; Carbon dioxide; Catalysts; chemical recycl; Chemical recycling; Chemistry; Closed-loop recycling; Depolymerization; Design; Design for recycling; Material properties; material property e; monomer design; Monomers; Natural resources; polyester; Polyester resins; Polyesters; Polymerization; Polymers; Recyclability; Recycling; Ring opening polymerization; bulk depolymerization; polyester; material property e; monomer design; chemical recycl
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202203635

Plastics are indispensable materials in modern society; however, their extensive use has contributed to the depletion of finite natural resources and caused severe environmental issues. One end‐of‐use solution for plastics involves the chemical recycling of polymers back to monomers for repolymerization to virgin polymers without changing the material properties, allowing the establishment of a circular material economy. This concept focuses on the critical advantages of chemically recyclable polymers in terms of monomer design, material properties, and the feasibility of bulk depolymerization. The recyclability via bulk thermolysis of various polyesters, CO2‐based polycarbonates, and polyacetals produced via ring‐opening polymerization is highlighted through discussions regarding rational monomer design and efficient catalyst development. An outlook and perspective are provided to delineate the future challenges in the rational design of monomer and polymer structures that deliver the desired materials performance while being suitable for bulk thermolysis with high (de)polymerization activity and selectivity. The chemical recycling of polymers back to monomers for repolymerization to virgin polymers offers a solution for the end‐of‐use problems of plastics and the potential to establish a circular material economy. This concept focuses on the critical advantages of chemically recyclable polymers in terms of monomer design, material properties, and the feasibility of bulk depolymerization.