Chemical recycling of poly(bisphenol A carbonate): 1, 5, 7-Triazabicyclo[4.4.0]-dec-5-ene catalyzed alcoholysis for highly efficient bisphenol A and organic carbonate recovery. (9th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Do, Taeyang; Baral, Ek Raj; Kim, Jeung Gon
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 143(2018)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2018-05-09
• Subjects: Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) -- Depolymerization -- Bisphenol A -- Organic carbonate -- Organocatalyst; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2018.04.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Chemical degradation of poly (bisphenol A carbonate) is achieved using an easy-to-use organocatalyst, TBD (1, 5, 7-triazabicyclo [4.4.0]-dec-5-ene). Because of increased concern over bisphenol A (BPA) acting as a potent hormone disruptor, proper disposal of end-of-life poly (bisphenol A carbonate) must be conducted to prevent BPA leakage into the ecosystem. In this report, a study on various catalytic methods for the depolymerization of poly (bisphenol A carbonate is presented. Among the many catalysts tested, TBD exhibited the best performance. Under mild conditions and low catalyst loading, poly (bisphenol A carbonate) can be quantitatively degraded into its parent raw materials, bisphenol A and dimethyl carbonate. Additionally, to simplify the reaction process, the depolymerization was designed to not require an auxiliary solvent. The product dimethyl carbonate served as the solvent, and excellent depolymerization was observed. The lack of auxiliary solvent reduces the number of chemical components entering the separation process. Alcoholysis with other alcohols was demonstrated as well. A group of value-added organic carbonates were successfully synthesized from the polycarbonate resin. Graphical abstract: Chemical depolymerization of poly (bisphenol A carbonate) was achieved by organocatalytic alcoholysis using TBD under mild conditions, resulting quantitative recovery of bisphenol A and organic carbonate.Image 1 Highlights: Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) was quantitatively depolymerized to bisphenol A and dimethyl carbonate under mild conditions. The depolymerization was conducted by a simple to use organocatalyst, 1, 5, 7-triazabicyclo [4.4.0]-dec-5-ene (TBD). The use of dimethyl carbonate as the solvent simplified the post-separation process. A group of value-added organic carbonates could be obtained from the plastic resin.