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Updated: Jul 8, 2025

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Published on: May 20, 2019
Highly selective pressure-dependent (transfer) hydrogenative depolymerization of polybutylene succinate
Mary L Johnson1, Rachel L Fine1, Dakota S Stankowski1
1Northland College, 1411 Ellis Ave., Ashland, Wisconsin, 54806, USA. nrobertson@northland.edu.
Abstract:
Ru-MACHO®-BH is an effective catalyst for controlled depolymerization of polybutylene succinate. Under low pressure hydrogen the catalyst produces gamma-butyrolactone via a novel transfer hydrogenation wherein dehydrogenation and hydrogenation deconstruct the polymer chain. Simply increasing the hydrogen pressure selectively generates 1,4-butanediol.
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