Tandem Heterogeneous Catalysis for Polyethylene Depolymerization via an Olefin-Intermediate Process
Lucas D. Ellis, Sara V. Orski, Grace A. Kenlaw, Andrew G. Norman, Kathryn L. Beers, Yuriy Román‐Leshkov, Gregg T. Beckham
Abstract
-pentane solvent. For the PE substrate, a molecular weight decrease of 73% was observed at 200 °C in 15 h. This type of tandem chemistry is an example of an olefin-intermediate process, in which poorly reactive aliphatic substrates are first activated through dehydrogenation and then functionalized or cleaved by a highly-active olefin catalyst. Olefin-intermediate processes like that examined here offer both a selective and versatile means to depolymerize polyolefins at lower severity than traditional pyrolysis or cracking conditions.
Topics & Concepts
DehydrogenationAlkaneCatalysisOlefin fiberPolyethyleneOrganic chemistryChemistryHeterogeneous catalysisDepolymerizationChemical engineeringAlkeneLinear low-density polyethylenePolymer chemistryMaterials scienceEngineeringbiodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesSynthetic Organic Chemistry MethodsCarbon dioxide utilization in catalysis