Tutorial Review
Organonitrogen platform chemicals and pharmaceutical precursors: a perspective on sustainable chitin utilization
Chitin is a sustainable source of naturally-fixed nitrogen. This review explores advances in converting chitin into nitrogen-containing compounds, emphasizing progress in synthesizing benzenoid aromatics and highlighting future prospects.
Tutorial Review
Advances in catalytic chemical recycling of synthetic textiles
Catalytic chemical depolymerisation is an emerging technology to recycle synthetic textiles and ultimately to enable a circular textile economy. Homogeneous and heterogeneous systems are reviewed.
Synthesis of cyclic peptide-based [2]rotaxanes via copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition
Cyclic peptide-based [2]rotaxanes were synthesized from cyclo(PG)4 and monocationic ammonium threads via CuAAC, achieving yields of up to 36%.
Paper
Poly(malic acid) copolymers as degradable rheology modifiers in aqueous formulations
Branched co-polyesters built from malic acid are synthesised and trialed as degradable polymeric rheology modifiers, characterizing their branching topology, viscoelastic properties and hydrolytic stability.
Paper
Thermodynamically leveraged solventless aerobic deconstruction of polyethylene-terephthalate plastics over a single-site molybdenum-dioxo catalyst
This study reports the ambient catalytic depolymerization of PET under solvent-free conditions, using a carbon-supported single-site molybdenum-dioxo catalyst.
Paper
Bio-oil derived polyesteramides as water-degradable replacements for polyethylene
Polyesteramides derived from Ethiopian mustard seed bio-oil possess commercially relevant thermomechanical properties and are chemically recyclable and water-degradable.
Paper
Monolithic, hybrid and particulate lignin-based hydrogels for sustainable CO2 capture
Lignin-based particulate hydrogels using lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) as cross-linking agents exhibit efficient CO2 absorption and enhanced mechanical properties, highlighting their potential applications in different areas.
High-strength, self-healable, transparent castor-oil-based waterborne polyurethane barrier coatings enabled by a dynamic acylhydrazone co-monomer
Sustainable rigid diols (VSD) is incorporated into castor-oil-based waterborne polyurethanes (CWPUs). This work expands the type of high-performance CWPUs with self-healing capability and broadens their applications as paper-based barrier coatings.
Paper
Shedding light on surfactant-free emulsion polymerization
Photo-surfactant-free emulsion polymerization.
Chemically recyclable poly(thioether-thioester)s via ring-opening polymerization of seven-membered thiolactones
These poly(thioether-thioester)s based on the seven-membered thiolactones paved the pathway towards the development of next-generation chemically recyclable sulfur-containing polymers.
[Ru]-Catalyzed olefin metathesis and ethenolysis for the synthesis and recycling of bio-based polycarbonates and polycyanurates
Eugenol was converted to an unsaturated polycarbonate and polycyanurate. These polymers were then successfully depolymerized and repolymerized via [Ru]-catalyzed ethenolysis, demonstrating a novel approach to the recycling of bio-based polymers.
Paper
Synthesis and RAFT polymerisation of hydrophobic acrylamide monomers derived from plant oils
Polymeric materials based on fatty acids have been synthesised using RAFT polymerisation. This work demonstrates the potential of biobased monomers, isolated directly from plant oils, for well-defined polymers to develop more sustainable materials.
Polyurethane foam acidolysis with carboxylic acids: acid structure dictates N-containing product distribution and kinetics
Spectroscopic characterization and kinetic studies elucidate the influence of dicarboxylic acid (DCA) structure on the formation of amide/imide products during chemical recycling of a flexible polyurethane foam (PUF).
About this collection
It is estimated that more than 300 million tons of synthetic polymeric materials are being produced every year and most are made from petroleum-based feedstocks. As the global consumption of polymers increases each year, this puts an unsustainable demand on our finite and non-renewable fossil fuel resources. In addition, the ever-growing quantity of polymers becoming waste at the end of their life presents serious environmental problems due to their persistence and potential ecotoxicity. This themed collection showcases cutting-edge research and advancements in developing more sustainable methods to tackle these global challenges.
The collection includes (but is not limited to) green synthetic approaches to polymers, polymers derived from renewable monomers/feedstock and agricultural waste, bio-based vitrimers, thermosets and resins, Life cycle analysis of polymers, upcycling end-of-life polymers and machine learning for sustainable polymers.
Guest Edited by: Maiyong Zhu (Jiangsu University), Gerard Lligadas (Universitat Rovira i Virgili), Fiona L. Hatton (Loughborough University), Garret Miyake (Colorado State University), and Antoine Buchard (University of York).