Depolymerization of PLA catalyzed by guanidine-modified microgels

Chemical Science, vol. 16, pp. 19614–19623

Abstract

Microgels are smart catalyst carrier systems, providing good catalyst solubility, accessibility, and compartmentalization, enabling recyclability and improving catalytic performance. In this study, we synthesized functional microgels with controlled number and localization of guanidine units. The microgels were evaluated for their catalytic performance in the methanolysis of polylactide (PLA) and demonstrated high catalytic performance of the guanidine catalyst. In addition, the localization of guanidine in the microgel core led to a faster depolymerization of PLA. The microgel carrier reduced the deactivation of the guanidine units compared to the unsupported guanidine catalyst over several cycles. Our results demonstrate the potential of microgels as catalyst carrier systems that can be used in multiple reaction cycles to improve the implementation of a circular plastics economy and thereby help to reduce plastic pollution in the environment.

Authors 5

1. Fabian Fink Aachen Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University Aachen D-52074 Germany sonja.herres-pawlis@ac.rwth-aachen.de

2. Frédéric Grabowski Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen D-52074 Germany pich@dwi.rwth-aachen.de

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University Aachen D-52074 Germany

3. Paul Nisgutski Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen D-52074 Germany pich@dwi.rwth-aachen.de

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University Aachen D-52074 Germany

4. Andrij Pich Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   Maastricht University · DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Maastricht University, RD Geleen, 6167, The Netherlands

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Maastricht University RD Geleen 6167 The Netherlands

   DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen D-52074 Germany pich@dwi.rwth-aachen.de

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University Aachen D-52074 Germany

5. Sonja Herres‐Pawlis Aachen Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University Aachen D-52074 Germany sonja.herres-pawlis@ac.rwth-aachen.de