Methacrylate and Lactone Monomers Recycled from Renewable Malic Acid-Based Polyester
Versatile Malic Acid-Based Lactone Monomer and PolyesterMalic acid is converted in two steps to 4-carboxymethylvalerolactone (CMVL), which can be polymerized to make a polyester. The polymer can be chemically recycled, via two different pathways, into two different monomers. One de-polymerization mechanism yields the original, renewable monomer, CMVL feedstock, and the other cleaves the polyester to create a methacrylate derivative that can be polymerized radically to afford a new polymethacrylate. This is a rare, perhaps first, example of a polymer that shows two independent chemical recycling pathways to two different classes of monomers.Polymers can be Chemically RecycledCurrent methods of disposing of plastics are commonly unsustainable and contribute to detrimental environmental and economic effects. To mitigate these effects, this new technology uses chemical or feedstock recycling, where a polymer is broken down into its monomer constituents for use in re-manufacture of polymers as a pure feedstock. The process is unique in that it uses readily available, abundant and inexpensive malic acid to form carboalkoxylated valerolactone polymers that can be chemically recycled by two independent pathways. Unlike other traditional bio-based polyesters, recycling monomer synthesis conditions can be tuned to make polymers of varying glass transition points by adjusting carbon chain length and position of functional groups on the monomer variations.BENEFITS AND FEATURES:Renewable monomer synthesized from malic acid in two stepsChemically recyclable by either of two independent pathwaysMultiple polymers may be further synthesized allowing for variation of important polymer properties such as glass transition pointAPPLICATIONS:Tunable recycling stream supporting production of monomersPlasticsElastomersPackagingAdhesivesCoatings
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