NaOH-Catalyzed Alcoholysis of Polylactide

Abstract

As polylactide becomes more widely used and its environmental implications pose significant challenges, there is a pressing need to create improved methods for breaking it down efficiently. Existing methodologies typically necessitate the use of solvents and rigorous exclusion of air and moisture, thereby significantly restricting their practical applicability. In this study, the alcoholysis of PLA catalyzed by 1 mol % NaOH has been developed, which is a simple and highly efficient method for the chemical recycling of PLA. This method utilizes an inexpensive and readily available catalyst and does not require solvent or air and moisture exclusion. The efficient and selective degradation of PLA commodity and polyester blends (PLA/PET; PLA/PCL) was also achieved. This strategy therefore represents a promising and sustainable approach for addressing the recycling challenges of end-of-life plastics, potentially playing a significant role in advancing the development of a circular plastic economy.