Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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 polymer...

Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis

Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis

Malonic ester synthesis is a method to obtain α substituted carboxylic acids from ꞵ-diesters such as diethyl malonate and alkyl halides.

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...

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.

Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes

Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes

In a dehydration reaction, a hydroxyl group in an alcohol is eliminated along with the hydrogen from an adjacent carbon. Here, the products are an alkene and a molecule of water. Dehydration of alcohols is generally achieved by heating in the presence of an acid catalyst. While the dehydration of primary alcohols requires high temperatures and acid concentrations, secondary and tertiary alcohols can lose a water molecule under relatively mild conditions.

Acid Halides to Esters: Alcoholysis

Acid Halides to Esters: Alcoholysis

Alcoholysis is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction in which an alcohol functions as a nucleophile. Acid halides react with alcohol to produce esters. The mechanism proceeds in three steps:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Emission of Photons by Near-Infrared PbS Quantum Dot Nanocrystals for a Large Diameter Range.

The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces·2026

Same author

Automated Generation of Supported Lipid Bilayer Arrays with Controlled Receptor Densities in Well Plates.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same author

Exothermic and Spontaneous Covalent Interaction of Trivalent Lanthanides with Diglycolamide and Carbamoylmethylphosphine Oxide-Functionalized Ionic Liquids: Spectroscopic, Electrochemical, and Computational Investigations.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Material-Selective Deposition of Reactive Group-Functionalized Poly‑l‑lysine for DNA Sensing at Optical Waveguides.

ACS omega·2025

Same author

Improving the fixed charge density of sustainably produced saloplastic anion exchange membranes.

RSC sustainability·2025

Same author

Quantifying and Controlling DNA Probe Density on the Surface of Silicon Nitride Optical Waveguides.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Stabilizing Hepatocellular Phenotype Using Optimized Synthetic Surfaces

Stabilizing Hepatocellular Phenotype Using Optimized Synthetic Surfaces

Published on: September 26, 2014

Polyurethane Depolymerization With Alkyl, Aryl, and Mixed Carbonates.

Ege Hosgor¹, Ricardo P Martinho¹, Willem Verboom¹

¹Molecular NanoFabrication Group, Department for Molecules & Materials, MESA+ Institute and Faculty of Science & Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.

|June 7, 2026

Summary

Dimethyl carbonate enables efficient, phosgene-free chemical recycling of polyurethane foams (PUFs). This method recovers valuable polyols and aromatic monomers by overcoming challenges posed by PUF

Keywords:

chemical recycling flexible polyurethane foam organic carbonates sustainable chemistry and exchange interactions

More Related Videos

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application

Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application

Published on: March 8, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Stabilizing Hepatocellular Phenotype Using Optimized Synthetic Surfaces

Stabilizing Hepatocellular Phenotype Using Optimized Synthetic Surfaces

Published on: September 26, 2014

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

Published on: December 16, 2022

Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application

Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application

Published on: March 8, 2019

Area of Science:

Polymer Chemistry
Sustainable Materials

Background:

Chemical recycling of polyurethane foams (PUFs) is difficult due to their crosslinked nature.
Organic carbonates offer a phosgene-free method for PUF depolymerization, recovering polyols and aromatic monomers via carbonyl exchange.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate various organic carbonates for their effectiveness in depolymerizing TDI-based flexible PUFs.
To understand how carbonate structure influences reaction pathways, selectivity, and product recovery.

Main Methods:

Depolymerization of PUFs using dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diphenyl carbonate (DPC), and methyl phenyl carbonate (MPC) with Zn(OAc)2 catalyst at 190°C for 4 hours.
Utilizing anisole as a cosolvent to improve hard-domain dissolution.
Analysis of recovered products, including methyl-functionalized toluene dicarbamate (Me-TDC) and polyols.

Main Results:

DPC led to lower selectivity due to side product formation.
DMC provided cleaner products but required a cosolvent (anisole) for optimal hard-domain dissolution.
The optimized DMC process recovered 85% of Me-TDC and 95% of polyols with easy product separation.

Conclusions:

Carbonate structure critically impacts PUF depolymerization pathways and outcomes.
Dimethyl carbonate, with anisole as a cosolvent, presents a selective and phosgene-free strategy for PUF chemical recycling.
This research provides insights for developing sustainable recycling methods for PUFs.