Highly efficient mechanochemical depolymerisation of bio-based polyethylene furanoate and polybutylene furanoate

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Divya Jain - , Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (Author)
  • Florian Cramer - , Chair of Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Pauline Shamraienko - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Hans Joachim Drexler - , Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (Author)
  • Brigitte Voit - , Chair of Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Torsten Beweries - , Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (Author)

Abstract

The challenge of producing new environmentally friendly and fossil-free polyesters has strongly encouraged the development of bio-based alternatives such as polyethylene furanoate (PEF) and polybutylene furanoate (PBF) as alternatives to commodity plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for everyday applications. In this contribution, we report the mechanochemical depolymerisation of these polymers using NaOH in the presence of NaCl as an additive along with the synthesis of high-molecular weight PEF and PBF. Efficient depolymerisation, producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and the corresponding diols in quantitative yields after aqueous acidic workup, is possible within 30 minutes milling time. Using slightly modified reaction conditions, transesterification with MeOH produces the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester (FuMe2), which can potentially be reused for polymer synthesis. Notably, the furan ring remains stable under the mechanochemical conditions used. The applicability of these straight-forward, environmentally friendly protocols on a large scale is demonstrated through multigram scale reactions.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3513-3519
Number of pages7
JournalRSC Sustainability
Volume3
Issue number8
Early online date24 Jun 2025
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jul 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 105009907351
ORCID /0000-0002-4531-691X/work/194254533

Keywords

Keywords

  • Polyester