Re-directing mixed-feed deconstruction products to hybrid polyesters: Tolerance windows for commodity plastics reconstruction

IF 11.2 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Resources Conservation and Recycling Pub Date : 2025-06-10 DOI:10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108439

Ryan W. Clarke , Briona J. Carswell , Jason S. DesVeaux , Levi J. Hamernik , Clarissa Lincoln , Vinod K. Konaganti , Rufina G. Alamo , Katrina M. Knauer

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Solvolysis is a promising strategy for mixed-feed polyester recycling, but little attention has been given to downstream product separations or the impact of using imperfectly separated monomer mixtures in recycled polymer reconstruction. Here, we challenge the traditional need for high-purity monomers in polycondensation synthesis of engineering thermoplastics. Monomer mixtures are derived from catalyzed methanolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), with separation scenarios ranging from high (99:1) to low (90:10) purity. We focus on challenging-to-separate products like ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol and evaluate tolerance for comonomer incorporation in recycled hybrid polyesters: polybutylene-co-ethylene terephthalate (PBET) and polybutylene ethylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBEAT). Evaluations are made between “contaminant” monomer incorporation, and the resulting materials’ thermal properties, crystalline structure, tensile toughness, and rheology. Ultimately, we highlight that despite incorporation of contaminant monomer, high-performance hybrid polyesters of PET, PBT, and PBAT are obtained while reducing the strain of high-throughput separations.

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重定向混合进料解构产品到混合聚酯：商品塑料重建的公差窗口

溶剂分解是一种很有前途的混合原料聚酯回收策略，但很少有人关注下游产品分离或使用不完全分离的单体混合物对回收聚合物重建的影响。在这里，我们挑战了在缩聚合成工程热塑性塑料中对高纯度单体的传统需求。单体混合物是由聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯（PET）、聚对苯二甲酸丁二酯（PBT）和聚己二酸丁二酯-共对苯二甲酸丁二酯（PBAT）催化甲醇分解得到的，分离纯度从高（99:1）到低（90:10）不等。我们专注于乙二醇和1,4-丁二醇等具有挑战性的分离产品，并评估共聚单体掺入回收杂化聚酯中的耐受性：聚丁烯-聚对苯二甲酸乙酯（PBET）和聚丁烯-己二酸乙二醇-聚对苯二甲酸乙酯（PBEAT）。在“污染”单体掺入和所得材料的热性能、晶体结构、拉伸韧性和流变性之间进行评估。最后，我们强调，尽管掺入了污染物单体，但在降低高通量分离压力的同时，获得了PET、PBT和PBAT的高性能杂化聚酯。

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来源期刊

Resources Conservation and Recycling 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

22.90

自引率

6.10%

发文量

625

审稿时长

23 days

期刊介绍： The journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling welcomes contributions from research, which consider sustainable management and conservation of resources. The journal prioritizes understanding the transformation processes crucial for transitioning toward more sustainable production and consumption systems. It highlights technological, economic, institutional, and policy aspects related to specific resource management practices such as conservation, recycling, and resource substitution, as well as broader strategies like improving resource productivity and restructuring production and consumption patterns. Contributions may address regional, national, or international scales and can range from individual resources or technologies to entire sectors or systems. Authors are encouraged to explore scientific and methodological issues alongside practical, environmental, and economic implications. However, manuscripts focusing solely on laboratory experiments without discussing their broader implications will not be considered for publication in the journal.