New method to achieve controlled polymerization and efficient depolymerization of polyester

The catalytic polymerization and engineering research group led by Wang Qinggang, a researcher at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Processes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a catalytic system for the controlled polymerization of lactones and the efficient depolymerization of polyesters.

Polyester plastic as a degradable material, although it can be naturally degraded into carbon dioxide and water, it usually requires certain environmental conditions and takes a long time

With the participation of alcohol initiators, the catalytic polymerization system exhibits excellent catalytic polymerization activity for lactone monomers of various structures such as lactide, caprolactone, valerolactone, etc.

This achievement can not only achieve controlled polymerization to obtain polyester materials using the same catalyst, but also realize waste polyester materials to small molecular compounds through high-efficiency depolymerization, realizing a true green cycle