Chemically Recyclable Ester-Linked Polypropylene

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Jul 20;144(28):12613-12618. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c04499. Epub 2022 Jul 6.

Abstract

Polyolefins represent the largest class of commodity materials due to their excellent material properties; however, they have limited pathways to chemical recycling and are often difficult to mechanically recycle. Here we demonstrate a new catalyst for the isoselective copolymerization of propylene and butadiene capable of favoring 1,4-insertion over 1,2-insertion while maintaining good molecular weights and turnover frequencies. This isotactic propylene copolymer with main-chain unsaturation was depolymerized to a telechelic macromonomer using an olefin metathesis catalyst and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate. After hydrogenation, the telechelic macromonomer was repolymerized to form an ester-linked polypropylene material. This polymer shows thermal and mechanical properties comparable to linear low-density polyethylene. Finally, the telechelic macromonomer could be regenerated through the depolymerization of the ester-linked polypropylene material, which allows for the chemical recycling to macromonomer. This process provides a route to transform partially unsaturated polyolefins to chemically recyclable materials with similar properties to their parent polymers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Esters*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polypropylenes*

Substances

  • Esters
  • Polymers
  • Polypropylenes