Making Persistent Plastics Degradable

ChemSusChem, vol. 16, pp. e202300553

Abstract

The vastness of the scale of the plastic waste problem will require a variety of strategies and technologies to move toward sustainable and circular materials. One of these strategies to address the challenge of persistent fossil-based plastics is new catalytic processes that are being developed to convert recalcitrant waste such as polyethylene to produce propylene, which can be an important precursor of high-performance polymers that can be designed to biodegrade or to degrade on demand. Remarkably, this process also enables the production of biodegradable polymers using renewable raw materials. In this Perspective, current catalyst systems and strategies that enable the catalytic degradation of polyethylene to propylene are presented. In addition, concepts for using "green" propylene as a raw material to produce compostable polymers is also discussed.

Authors 5

1. Vajk Farkas

   Budapest University of Technology and Economics · Yale University · Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry · Hungarian Research Network · HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Szent Gellért tér 4. 1111 Budapest Hungary

   Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry Eötvös Loránd Research Network Research Centre for Natural Sciences P.O. Box 286. Budapest Hungary

   Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Engineering Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA

   Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology Budapest University of Technology and Economics Szent Gellért tér 4. 1111 Budapest Hungary

   HAS RCNS: Termeszettudomanyi Kutatokozpont, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, HUNGARY

   Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry Eötvös Loránd Research Network Research Centre for Natural Sciences P.O. Box 286. Budapest Hungary

2. Márton Nagyházi

   Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry · Hungarian Research Network · HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry Eötvös Loránd Research Network Research Centre for Natural Sciences P.O. Box 286. Budapest Hungary

   Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry Eötvös Loránd Research Network Research Centre for Natural Sciences P.O. Box 286. Budapest Hungary

3. Paul T. Anastas

   Yale University

   Affiliation as printed

   Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Engineering Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA

   Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Engineering Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA

4. Jürgen Klankermayer Aachen Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 252074 Aachen Germany

   Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 252074 Aachen Germany

5. Róbert Tuba corresponding

   University of Pannonia · Yale University · Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry · Hungarian Research Network · Hungarian Academy of Sciences · HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Engineering Research Centre of Biochemical Environmental and Chemical Engineering MOL Department of Hydrocarbon & Coal Processing University of Pannonia Egyetem u. 10 H-8200 Veszprém Hungary

   Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry Eötvös Loránd Research Network Research Centre for Natural Sciences P.O. Box 286. Budapest Hungary

   Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Engineering Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA

   Faculty of Engineering Research Centre of Biochemical Environmental and Chemical Engineering MOL Department of Hydrocarbon & Coal Processing University of Pannonia Egyetem u. 10 H-8200 Veszprém Hungary

   Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry Eötvös Loránd Research Network Research Centre for Natural Sciences P.O. Box 286. Budapest Hungary

   Research Centre for Natural Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Magyar tudosok korutja 2., 1117 Budapest, HUNGARY