IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-023-44604-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44604-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-023-44604-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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. Cristina Romera-Castillo & Maria Pinto & Teresa M. Langer & Xosé Antón Álvarez-Salgado & Gerhard J. Herndl, 2018. "Dissolved organic carbon leaching from plastics stimulates microbial activity in the ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jun Qi & Yadong Du & Qi Yang & Na Jiang & Jiachun Li & Yi Ma & Yangjun Ma & Xin Zhao & Jieshan Qiu, 2023. "Energy-saving and product-oriented hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis enabled by electrochemistry pairing and product engineering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Xiangxi Lou & Penglei Yan & Binglei Jiao & Qingye Li & Panpan Xu & Lei Wang & Liang Zhang & Muhan Cao & Guiling Wang & Zheng Chen & Qiao Zhang & Jinxing Chen, 2024. "Grave-to-cradle photothermal upcycling of waste polyesters over spent LiCoO2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Xing-Wang Han & Xun Zhang & Youyun Zhou & Aizezi Maimaitiming & Xiu-Li Sun & Yanshan Gao & Peizhi Li & Boyu Zhu & Eugene Y.-X. Chen & Xiaokang Kuang & Yong Tang, 2024. "Circular olefin copolymers made de novo from ethylene and α-olefins," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Jomin Thomas & Renuka Subhash Patil & Mahesh Patil & Jacob John, 2023. "Addressing the Sustainability Conundrums and Challenges within the Polymer Value Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Katarzyna Świderek & Susana Velasco-Lozano & Miquel À. Galmés & Ion Olazabal & Haritz Sardon & Fernando López-Gallego & Vicent Moliner, 2023. "Mechanistic studies of a lipase unveil effect of pH on hydrolysis products of small PET modules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Charissa M. Ferrera & Gil S. Jacinto & Chen-Tung Arthur Chen & Hon-Kit Lui, 2018. "Organic Carbon Concentrations in High- and Low-Productivity Areas of the Sulu Sea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, June.
    7. Xiangdong Zhu & Litao Lin & Mingyue Pang & Chao Jia & Longlong Xia & Guosheng Shi & Shicheng Zhang & Yuanda Lu & Liming Sun & Fengbo Yu & Jie Gao & Zhelin He & Xuan Wu & Aodi Li & Liang Wang & Meiling, 2024. "Continuous and low-carbon production of biomass flash graphene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Eleanor A. Sheridan & Jérémy A. Fonvielle & Samuel Cottingham & Yi Zhang & Thorsten Dittmar & David C. Aldridge & Andrew J. Tanentzap, 2022. "Plastic pollution fosters more microbial growth in lakes than natural organic matter," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    9. Laura Wimberger & Gervase Ng & Cyrille Boyer, 2024. "Light-driven polymer recycling to monomers and small molecules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    10. Yuanjia Zhang & Xueru Chen & Leilei Cheng & Jing Gu & Yulin Xu, 2023. "Conversion of Polyethylene to High-Yield Fuel Oil at Low Temperatures and Atmospheric Initial Pressure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    11. Yu Yang & Jian Min & Ting Xue & Pengcheng Jiang & Xin Liu & Rouming Peng & Jian-Wen Huang & Yingying Qu & Xian Li & Ning Ma & Fang-Chang Tsai & Longhai Dai & Qi Zhang & Yingle Liu & Chun-Chi Chen & Re, 2023. "Complete bio-degradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) via engineered cutinases," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    12. Andrew J Tanentzap & Samuel Cottingham & Jérémy Fonvielle & Isobel Riley & Lucy M Walker & Samuel G Woodman & Danai Kontou & Christian M Pichler & Erwin Reisner & Laurent Lebreton, 2021. "Microplastics and anthropogenic fibre concentrations in lakes reflect surrounding land use," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, September.
    13. 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.
    14. Giovanni Davide Barone & Damir Ferizović & Antonino Biundo & Peter Lindblad, 2020. "Hints at the Applicability of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria for the Biodegradation of Plastics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-15, December.
    15. Yan Guo & Bowen Zhu & Chuyang Y. Tang & Qixin Zhou & Yongfa Zhu, 2024. "Photogenerated outer electric field induced electrophoresis of organic nanocrystals for effective solid-solid photocatalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    16. Theerayut Phengsaart & Pongsiri Julapong & Chaiwat Manositchaikul & Palot Srichonphaisarn & Monthicha Rawangphai & Onchanok Juntarasakul & Kosei Aikawa & Sanghee Jeon & Ilhwan Park & Carlito Baltazar , 2023. "Recent Studies and Technologies in the Separation of Polyvinyl Chloride for Resources Recycling: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.
    17. Christina Zeri & Argyro Adamopoulou & Angeliki Koi & Nicholas Koutsikos & Efthymios Lytras & Elias Dimitriou, 2021. "Rivers and Wastewater-Treatment Plants as Microplastic Pathways to Eastern Mediterranean Waters: First Records for the Aegean Sea, Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-44604-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.