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Catalytic Autoxidation for Depolymerization of Multilayer Plastic Films.

Ciaran W Lahive1,2, Amy A Cuthbertson1,2, Anna N Walsh1

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Chemical recycling of multilayer plastic films using metal-catalyzed autoxidation effectively breaks down diverse polymers into valuable oxygenates. This versatile method shows promise for plastic waste management, even with additives.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Multilayer plastic films present recycling challenges due to their complex polymer compositions.
  • Existing recycling methods struggle with the heterogeneity of mixed polymers found in these films.
  • Chemical recycling offers a potential solution for deconstructing complex plastic structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effectiveness of metal-catalyzed autoxidation for depolymerizing diverse multilayer plastic films.
  • To optimize reaction conditions for efficient deconstruction of polyethylene using a Co, Mn, and Br cocatalyst system.
  • To assess the method's applicability to various polymers and its resistance to common disruptors.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated catalytic autoxidation using a cobalt, manganese, and bromine cocatalyst system on a polyethylene model substrate.
  • Utilized high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to characterize product distributions from depolymerized polymers.
  • Developed analytical methods for quantifying complex oxygenated product streams.
  • Applied optimized conditions to 11 multilayer plastic films containing 10 different polymers and common disruptors.

Main Results:

  • Achieved full carbon closure for polyethylene, with oxygenated small molecules contributing up to 48% of the carbon.
  • Demonstrated catalytic autoxidation's effectiveness across a broad range of polymer types within multilayer films.
  • Showed resistance to nonpolymeric disruptors like aluminum foil and titanium dioxide.
  • Observed CO2 generation, indicating areas for process optimization.

Conclusions:

  • Metal-catalyzed autoxidation is a versatile chemical recycling method effective for depolymerizing diverse multilayer plastic films.
  • The process shows robustness against various polymer types and common additives/disruptors.
  • Further reaction engineering and condition modifications are needed to maximize yields of soluble oxygenated products and minimize CO2 formation.