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Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
Functional Phenylboronate Polymers for the Recovery of Diols, Sugar Alcohols, and Saccharides from Aqueous Solution
Guido Schroer1, Valérie Toussaint1, Stephanie Bachmann2
1Chair of Heterogeneous Catalysis and Chemical Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Abstract:
The ongoing transition from fossil to renewable feedstocks demands new efficient processes for an economically viable production of biomass-derived commodities and fine chemicals. Novel energy- and material-efficient product purification and separation will play a crucial role due to altered product and feed composition. The present study comprises the synthesis and tests of cross-linked p-vinylphenylboronate polymers for the separation of 18 diols, sugar alcohols, and saccharides, which can be obtained during biomass processing. The separation was based on molecular recognition, that is, esterification of the phenylboronate with vicinal diols. A correlation of the molecular complexation constant, the polymer swelling, and the maximum adsorption capacity was found. The adsorption curves over time were recorded. Preliminary results on competitive adsorption of binary mixtures showed a high potential for the separation of substrates with significantly different complexation constants. Desorption tests implied easier desorption of substrates that only adsorb on the outer polymer shell.
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