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Related Concept Videos

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the...
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Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis01:13

Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis

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Hydrolysis of esters under acidic conditions proceeds through a nucleophilic acyl substitution. In the presence of excess water, the reaction proceeds in a reversible manner, forming carboxylic acids and alcohols.
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...
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Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

7.9K
The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
7.9K
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview01:13

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

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Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists...
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Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:13

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

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Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called catalytic hydrogenation.
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
12.1K
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation02:17

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

3.3K
Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
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Conversion of all polyester units to amines: Ruthenium-catalyzed, acid-assisted hydrogenative amination.

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Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
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Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

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Highly Efficient Depolymerization of Waste Polyesters Enabled by Transesterification/Hydrogenation Relay Under Mild

Yue Hu1, Shiyun Zhang1, Juanfang Xu1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|September 21, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents an efficient method for degrading waste polyesters at low temperatures (80°C) using a novel ruthenium catalyst and methanol. The process yields valuable monomers, showcasing a sustainable approach to polyester recycling.

Keywords:
Homogeneous CatalysisHydrogenolysisPET DepolymerizationPolyestersTransesterification

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Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Catalysis
  • Green Chemistry

Background:

  • Efficient polyester depolymerization under mild conditions is a significant challenge.
  • Developing sustainable methods for waste polyester degradation is crucial for environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a highly efficient strategy for the degradation of diverse waste polyesters under mild conditions.
  • To investigate the catalytic mechanism and the role of methanol in polyester hydrogenolysis.

Main Methods:

  • Transesterification of polyesters using methanol.
  • Hydrogenation of oligomeric fragments with a quinaldine-based ruthenium complex.
  • Catalyst characterization using X-ray diffraction analysis.

Main Results:

  • Degradation of various waste polyesters achieved at 80°C and 1 bar H2.
  • Identification of an active catalytic species formed by hydrogenation of the quinaldine-based precursor.
  • Successful synthesis of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Conclusions:

  • The developed method offers an efficient and mild route for polyester degradation.
  • The quinaldine-based ruthenium catalyst and methanol play crucial roles in the hydrogenolysis process.
  • This approach demonstrates significant potential for the valorization of waste polyesters.