Development of tin oxide catalysts promoting the ring-closing depolymerization of poly(ε-caprolactone) under mild...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCE) is a biodegradable polyester with diverse applications.
• Efficient depolymerization of PCE is crucial for sustainable polymer recycling and monomer recovery.
• Developing effective heterogeneous catalysts is key to achieving high yields under mild conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the depolymerization of poly(ε-caprolactone).
• To achieve high yields of ε-caprolactone monomer under mild reaction conditions.
• To evaluate the catalyst's durability and scalability for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a tailored SnO heterogeneous catalyst via calcination.
• Testing the catalyst's performance in the depolymerization of poly(ε-caprolactone).
• Analysis of reaction products to determine ε-caprolactone yield and purity.

Main Results:

• The tailored SnO catalyst achieved a high yield of ε-caprolactone, up to 94%.
• Depolymerization occurred effectively under mild reaction conditions.
• The catalyst demonstrated excellent durability and scalability, indicating practical viability.

Conclusions:

• Tailored SnO is an effective heterogeneous catalyst for poly(ε-caprolactone) depolymerization.
• The catalyst's performance is attributed to SnO nanoparticles and accessible Sn²⁺ sites.
• This approach offers a sustainable and efficient method for ε-caprolactone recovery and polymer recycling.