Dioxomolybdenum complex as an efficient and cheap catalyst for the reductive depolymerization of plastic waste into value-added compounds and fuels

Abstract

This work describes the efficient and selective reductive depolymerization of PET, PBT, PCL, PLA and PDO plastic waste into value-added compounds and fuels, including 1,6-hexanediol, xylene and propane, catalyzed by the eco-friendly, cheap and air-stable dioxomolybdenum complex MoO₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂ using silanes as reducing agents. The catalyst MoO₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂ can be used in at least 8 catalytic cycles in the reductive depolymerization of PCL with excellent activity and the catalytic system PMHS/MoO₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂ was successfully applied in the production of propane from the reductive depolymerization of PLA on a gram scale. Moreover, this method was also efficiently applied in the selective reduction of a PCL, PLA and PET mixture.