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Bioplastics

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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.

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
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Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

Alkylidene functionalization produces highly recyclable and scalable polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Li Zhou¹, James H May^2,3, Ravikumar R Gowda¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|May 7, 2026

Summary

This study introduces a novel recyclable polymer, i-PHA, derived from biomass. Its unique structure allows for efficient chemical recycling and tunable properties, advancing the circular economy for advanced materials.

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Area of Science:

Polymer Chemistry
Materials Science
Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

Achieving a circular economy requires scalable, tunable, and recyclable polymers.
Synthetic poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs) offer chemical recyclability but face challenges in monomer synthesis and recycling efficiency.
Existing PHAs are difficult to synthesize at scale and have suboptimal recycling efficiencies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate a novel β-isopropylidene PHA (i-PHA) for enhanced recyclability and tunable properties.
To explore the synthesis of i-PHA monomer from biomass-derived isobutyric acid using industrial methods.
To demonstrate the potential of i-PHA in creating diverse, high-performance polymers competitive with commodity plastics.

Main Methods:

Synthesized a β-isopropylidene PHA (i-PHA) monomer from biomass-derived isobutyric acid.
Utilized the alkylidene substituent to prevent decarboxylative degradation during depolymerization.
Performed controlled hydrogenation of the β-isopropylidene side group to tune polymer properties.

Main Results:

Achieved near-quantitative chemical recycling of i-PHA back to its monomer.
Demonstrated that the alkylidene group prevents typical PHA degradation during depolymerization.
Produced a range of PHAs via hydrogenation with properties suitable for fibers, thermoplastics, and epoxy resins.

Conclusions:

i-PHA presents a viable pathway for scalable, high-performance, and chemically recyclable polymers.
The i-PHA platform enables efficient monomer recovery and property tuning within a single polymer framework.
This work contributes to advancing the circular economy through innovative polymer design and recycling.