Light-driven polymer recycling to monomers and small molecules

Laura Wimberger; Gervase Ng; Cyrille Boyer

doi:10.1038/s41467-024-46656-3

journal article Open Access Mar 20, 2024

Light-driven polymer recycling to monomers and small molecules

Laura Wimberger Gervase Ng Cyrille Boyer

Nature Communications Vol. 15 No. 1 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

View at Publisher Save 10.1038/s41467-024-46656-3

Abstract

Abstract
Only a small proportion of global plastic waste is recycled, of which most is mechanically recycled into lower quality materials. The alternative, chemical recycling, enables renewed production of pristine materials, but generally comes at a high energy cost, particularly for processes like pyrolysis. This review focuses on light-driven approaches for chemically recycling and upcycling plastic waste, with emphasis on reduced energy consumption and selective transformations not achievable with heat-driven methods. We focus on challenging to recycle backbone structures composed of mainly C‒C bonds, which lack functional groups i.e., esters or amides, that facilitate chemical recycling e.g., by solvolysis. We discuss the use of light, either in conjunction with heat to drive depolymerization to monomers or via photocatalysis to transform polymers into valuable small molecules. The structural prerequisites for these approaches are outlined, highlighting their advantages as well as limitations. We conclude with an outlook, addressing key challenges, opportunities, and provide guidelines for future photocatalyst (PC) development.

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Published: Mar 20, 2024
Vol/Issue: 15(1)
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Funding

Department of Education and Training | Australian Research Council Award: FL220100016

Cite This Article

Laura Wimberger, Gervase Ng, Cyrille Boyer (2024). Light-driven polymer recycling to monomers and small molecules. Nature Communications, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46656-3

Light-driven polymer recycling to monomers and small molecules

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