Ruthenium‐catalyzed Chemical Recycling of Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) via Hydrogenative Depolymerization and Dehydrogenative Polymerization
Christoph Alberti, Stephan Enthaler
Abstract
Abstract The chemical recycling of end‐of‐life polymers can be a beneficial part for a future circular chemistry/economy. In this regard, the chemical recycling of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) was studied. In more detail, end‐of‐life PCL was depolymerized by hydrogenation with the aid of catalytic amounts of the commercially available Ru‐MACHO‐BH complex to generate 1,6‐hexanediol. The 1,6‐hexanediol was used as starting material to synthesize polyesters based on poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) and/or poly(1,6‐hexanediol‐adipate) in a dehydrogenative polymerization enabled by catalytic amounts of the Ru‐MACHO‐BH complex. Overall a recycling is feasible.
Topics & Concepts
AdipateDepolymerizationPolyesterCaprolactonePolymerizationCatalysisPolymer chemistryPolymerChemistryOrganic chemistryMaterials sciencebiodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesCarbon dioxide utilization in catalysisMicroplastics and Plastic Pollution