Themed collection Plastic Conversion

30 items
Editorial

Introduction to Plastic Conversion

Guest Editors Ina Vollmer, Haritz Sardon, George W. Huber and Zhibo Li introduce the Catalysis Science & Technology and Polymer Chemistry cross-journal themed collection on plastic conversion.

Graphical abstract: Introduction to Plastic Conversion
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Editorial

Introduction to Plastic Conversion

Guest Editors Ina Vollmer, Haritz Sardon, George W. Huber and Zhibo Li introduce the Catalysis Science & Technology and Polymer Chemistry cross-journal themed collection on plastic conversion.

Graphical abstract: Introduction to Plastic Conversion
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Perspective

From plastic waste to new materials for energy storage

A perspective on using plastic waste as an alternative feedstock for the energy storage sector through upcycling. Materials for electrodes, electrolytes or binders could be obtained from both advanced combustion and depolymerization methods.

Graphical abstract: From plastic waste to new materials for energy storage
From the themed collection: Polymer Chemistry Lectureship Winners
Minireview

Critical issues for the deployment of plastic waste pyrolysis

This review is focused on a number of issues that are essential for the industrial development of plastic waste pyrolysis technologies, including the role of catalysts, dehalogenation treatments, co-pyrolysis and process modelling and assessment.

Graphical abstract: Critical issues for the deployment of plastic waste pyrolysis
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Minireview

A systematic review on plastic waste conversion for a circular economy: recent trends and emerging technologies

Our biosphere has been adversely affected by plastic waste pollution, especially non-biodegradables in landfills, which induces hazardous chemical leaching and toxic gas emissions on burning into the atmosphere.

Graphical abstract: A systematic review on plastic waste conversion for a circular economy: recent trends and emerging technologies
Minireview

Catalytic hydroconversion processes for upcycling plastic waste to fuels and chemicals

This review provides an overview of catalytic hydroconversion processes including hydrocracking, hydrogenolysis and hydrodeoxygenation for upcycling of plastic wastes into fuels and valuable chemicals.

Graphical abstract: Catalytic hydroconversion processes for upcycling plastic waste to fuels and chemicals
Review Article

From vanillin to biobased aromatic polymers

This review highlights the recent advances and synthetic routes for the development of different vanillin-based polymers, including thermosets, thermoplastics, and covalent adaptable networks (CANs), and their properties.

Graphical abstract: From vanillin to biobased aromatic polymers
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Review Article

The advent of recyclable CO2-based polycarbonates

Here we describe the main synthetic approaches for the production of CO2-based polycarbonates and their emerging end-of-life scenarios by chemical re-/up-cycling.

Graphical abstract: The advent of recyclable CO2-based polycarbonates
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Open Access Communication

Upcycling of BPA-PC into trimethylene carbonate by solvent assisted organocatalysed depolymerisation

This study describes the solvent-assisted organocatalysed depolymerisation of BPA-PC at low temperature for the selective formation of trimethylene carbonate. The key role of 1-methylimidazole as solvent and imidazole as catalyst is investigated.

Graphical abstract: Upcycling of BPA-PC into trimethylene carbonate by solvent assisted organocatalysed depolymerisation
From the themed collection: Polymer Chemistry Recent HOT Articles
Communication

Naphthalene engineering of chemically recyclable polyesters with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties

Monomer design strategy via functional substitution served as a powerful tool to improve chemical recyclability of the resulting polymers and fine-tune their thermal and mechanical properties.

Graphical abstract: Naphthalene engineering of chemically recyclable polyesters with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Communication

Photo-responsive lignin fragment-based polymers as switchable adhesives

A photo-reversible and reusable polymer adhesive was designed and synthesized from bio-resources. Six unique monomers were evaluated via structure–property analysis, and the best polymer adhesive performance was optimized using statistical methods.

Graphical abstract: Photo-responsive lignin fragment-based polymers as switchable adhesives
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Selective deoxygenation of polar polymers using metal supported on TiO2 nanotubes

A catalytic strategy is presented for the selective conversion of OH groups in polyols, such as EVOH, while preserving the carbon backbone with applications for the recycling and compatibilization of multilayered polymer films.

Graphical abstract: Selective deoxygenation of polar polymers using metal supported on TiO2 nanotubes
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Chemical recycling of CO2-based polycarbonates to sulfur-containing polymers

This work provides a “polymer A to polymer B” strategy for the upcycling of CO2-based poly(ether)carbonates to sulfur-containing polymers.

Graphical abstract: Chemical recycling of CO2-based polycarbonates to sulfur-containing polymers
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Efficient synthesis of camphor-based polycarbonates: a direct route to recyclable polymers

A commercially available magnesium catalyst is active as a polymerization and depolymerization catalyst, allowing access to bio-based polycarbonates and their recycling by methanolysis.

Graphical abstract: Efficient synthesis of camphor-based polycarbonates: a direct route to recyclable polymers
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Solvent-induced competing processes in polycarbonate degradation: depolymerization, chain scission, and branching/crosslinking

Catalyzed by copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs), polycarbonate (PC) degradation exhibits different degradation behaviors in varying solvents, showing competitive processes of chain scission, branching, and crosslinking.

Graphical abstract: Solvent-induced competing processes in polycarbonate degradation: depolymerization, chain scission, and branching/crosslinking
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Thermo-responsive polymer catalysts for polyester recycling processes: switching from homogeneous catalysis to heterogeneous separations

The use of thermo-responsive polymers in switchable catalysts enables the efficient and homogeneous chemical recycling of post-consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) and the heterogeneous separation of catalyst in a single system.

Graphical abstract: Thermo-responsive polymer catalysts for polyester recycling processes: switching from homogeneous catalysis to heterogeneous separations
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Alkali metal carbonate catalyzed copolymerization of anhydrides and epoxides: a simple, efficient and versatile approach to well-defined alternating polyesters

Readily available and economical alkali metal carbonates have been utilized to catalyze the ROAC of PA and various epoxides to afford polyesters with perfectly alternating sequence distribution, controlled molar masses, and moderate dispersity.

Graphical abstract: Alkali metal carbonate catalyzed copolymerization of anhydrides and epoxides: a simple, efficient and versatile approach to well-defined alternating polyesters
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Bio-based upcycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste to UV-curable polyurethane acrylate

A strategy for upcycling poly(ethylene terephthalate) into a high-value UV-curable polyurethane acrylate coating using bio-based cardanol diol as a glycolysis agent.

Graphical abstract: Bio-based upcycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste to UV-curable polyurethane acrylate
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

An efficient cyclodepolymerization route for the chemical recycling of poly(ethylene adipate)

We present here a green cyclodepolymerization route for the chemical recycling of poly(ethylene adipate) to its cyclic oligomers based on ring–chain equilibria in solution.

Graphical abstract: An efficient cyclodepolymerization route for the chemical recycling of poly(ethylene adipate)
From the themed collection: Polymer Chemistry Recent HOT Articles
Open Access Paper

Model reactions for the evaluation of poly- and multifunctional molecules as potential interfacial agents for the compatibilization of polyethylene/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) blends

Upcycling of plastic waste is approached by designing multifunctional molecules for reactive compatibilization investigations of a model polymer blend, here polyethylene (PE) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH).

Graphical abstract: Model reactions for the evaluation of poly- and multifunctional molecules as potential interfacial agents for the compatibilization of polyethylene/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) blends
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Leveraging the monomer structure for high-performance chemically recyclable semiaromatic polyesters

Monomer design via functionalization serves as a promising strategy towards the development of inexpensive and high-performance chemically recyclable polymers.

Graphical abstract: Leveraging the monomer structure for high-performance chemically recyclable semiaromatic polyesters
Open Access Paper

Exploiting retro oxa-Michael chemistry in polymers

The dynamic nature of oxa-Michael derived bonds in polymers is studied in this work. Brønsted base catalysis allows for reprocessing polymer networks at temperatures around 140 °C.

Graphical abstract: Exploiting retro oxa-Michael chemistry in polymers
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

From plastic to elastomers: introducing reversible copper–thioether coordination in CO2-based polycarbonate

From plastic to functional elastomer by constructing Cu–S dynamic reversible bonds in CO2-based polycarbonate.

Graphical abstract: From plastic to elastomers: introducing reversible copper–thioether coordination in CO2-based polycarbonate
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Open Access Paper

Lewis acid Sn-Beta catalysts for the cycloaddition of isoprene and methyl acrylate: a greener route to bio-derived monomers

Framework-Sn sites in Sn-Beta zeolites provide the required Lewis acidity to selectively catalyze the Diels–Alder cycloaddition between methyl acrylate and isoprene, affording a precursor to bio-terephthalic acid.

Graphical abstract: Lewis acid Sn-Beta catalysts for the cycloaddition of isoprene and methyl acrylate: a greener route to bio-derived monomers
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Diverse chemically recyclable polymers obtained by cationic vinyl and ring-opening polymerizations of the cyclic ketene acetal ester “dehydroaspirin”

Chemically recyclable polymers composed of carbon and/or ester backbones were prepared by vinyl and ring-opening polymerizations of a cyclic ketene acetal ester.

Graphical abstract: Diverse chemically recyclable polymers obtained by cationic vinyl and ring-opening polymerizations of the cyclic ketene acetal ester “dehydroaspirin”
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Open Access Paper

Towards degradable polyethylene: end-functionalised polyethylene (PE-X) and PE-I/LDPE blends from iron-catalysed chain growth of ZnEt2 with ethylene

The use of iron-catalysed chain growth of ZnEt2 enables the synthesis of end-functionalised polyethylenes such as PE-I, which can be blended homogeneously into LDPE to affect the polymer degradability.

Graphical abstract: Towards degradable polyethylene: end-functionalised polyethylene (PE-X) and PE-I/LDPE blends from iron-catalysed chain growth of ZnEt2 with ethylene
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Closed-loop chemical recycling of poly(ε-caprolactone) by tuning reaction parameters

The first ε-CL polymerization/PCL depolymerization closed-loop chemical recycling process was developed under the catalysis of Mg(HMDS)2.

Graphical abstract: Closed-loop chemical recycling of poly(ε-caprolactone) by tuning reaction parameters
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Open Access Paper

Homoleptic phenoxy-imine pyridine zinc complexes: efficient catalysts for solvent free synthesis and chemical degradation of polyesters

Robust homoleptic zinc catalysts offer new opportunities for recycling polyesters such as poly(lactic acid) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) to obtain platform molecules in a plastics circular economy approach.

Graphical abstract: Homoleptic phenoxy-imine pyridine zinc complexes: efficient catalysts for solvent free synthesis and chemical degradation of polyesters
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Paper

Complete utilization of waste lignin: preparation of lignin-derived carbon supports and conversion of lignin-derived guaiacol to nylon precursors

A new catalytic process was developed to produce raw materials for nylon production utilizing 100% of waste lignin emitted from industrial processes.

Graphical abstract: Complete utilization of waste lignin: preparation of lignin-derived carbon supports and conversion of lignin-derived guaiacol to nylon precursors
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
Open Access Paper

Recycling and valorization of LDPE: direct transformation into highly ordered doped-carbon materials and their application as electro-catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

A transformation of LDPE in highly ordered doped-carbon materials by a simple one-step pyrolysis in presence of transition metal precursors is proposed. The graphitization, metal dispersion and CNFs presence are key factors for the high ORR performance.

Graphical abstract: Recycling and valorization of LDPE: direct transformation into highly ordered doped-carbon materials and their application as electro-catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction
From the themed collection: Plastic Conversion
30 items

About this collection

The Polymer Chemistry and Catalysis Science & Technology cross-journal collection on ‘Plastic Conversion’ aims to highlight research that makes use of catalysis to optimise plastic recycling and addresses getting the most value out of plastic waste. Guest edited by George Huber (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA), Zhibo Li (Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China), Haritz Sardon (University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain) and Ina Vollmer (Utrecht University, the Netherlands), this special collection recognizes that management of plastic wastes relies on research conducted at the intersection of polymer chemistry and catalysis. 

We hope this collection inspires and informs of the latest research on this important topic.

If you are interested in this collection, why not read this related collection across Materials Horizons, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C on ‘Polymer Upcycling’. This aims to explore the latest developments in materials characterization, polymer design and synthesis, physical chemistry and molecular understanding of plastic decomposition and transformation that contribute to a broad knowledge base for upcycling waste plastics.


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