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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
Versatile Chemical Recycling Strategies: Value-Added Chemicals from Polyester and Polycarbonate Waste
Jack M Payne1,2, Muhammad Kamran1,2, Matthew G Davidson1,2
1Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
ZnII -complexes bearing half-salan ligands were exploited in the mild and selective chemical upcycling of various commercial polyesters and polycarbonates. Remarkably, we report the first example of discrete metal-mediated poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (BPA-PC) methanolysis being appreciably active at room temperature. Indeed, Zn(2)2 and Zn(2)Et achieved complete BPA-PC consumption within 12-18 mins in 2-Me-THF, noting high bisphenol A (BPA) yields (SBPA =85-91 %) within 2-4 h. Further kinetic analysis found such catalysts to possess kapp values of 0.28±0.040 and 0.47±0.049 min-1 respectively at 4 wt%, the highest reported to date. A completely circular upcycling approach to plastic waste was demonstrated through the production of several renewable poly(ester-amide)s (PEAs), based on a terephthalamide monomer derived from bottle-grade poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which exhibited excellent thermal properties.
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