Julia B. Curley, Yuanzhe Liang, Jason S. DesVeaux, Hoon Choi, Ryan W. Clarke, Anjani K. Maurya, William E. Michener, Lisa M. Stanley, Yue Wu, Sarah A. Hesse, Andrea L. Baer, Hudson A. Neyer, Christopher J. Tassone, Alan J. Jacobsen, Ofei D. Mante, Gregg T. Beckham, Katrina M. Knauer
{"title":"Closed-loop recycling of mixed polyesters via catalytic methanolysis and monomer separations","authors":"Julia B. Curley, Yuanzhe Liang, Jason S. DesVeaux, Hoon Choi, Ryan W. Clarke, Anjani K. Maurya, William E. Michener, Lisa M. Stanley, Yue Wu, Sarah A. Hesse, Andrea L. Baer, Hudson A. Neyer, Christopher J. Tassone, Alan J. Jacobsen, Ofei D. Mante, Gregg T. Beckham, Katrina M. Knauer","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00275-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00275-x","url":null,"abstract":"A sustainable plastics future will require high recycling rates and the use of biogenic feedstocks, which together are catalyzing interest in replacing fossil fuel-derived, noncircular polyolefin packaging materials with bio-based, chemically recyclable polyesters. Here we present a catalytic methanolysis process capable of depolymerizing both fossil fuel- and bio-based polyesters, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid, polybutylene adipate terephthalate and polybutylene succinate in one reactor under mild conditions with high monomer yields. We scaled this process to 1 kg and integrated separations engineering using activated carbon, crystallization, extraction and distillation to remove contaminants and recover individual monomers from depolymerized mixed polyesters with high yield and purity. PET synthesized from monomers isolated from postconsumer materials showed comparable mechanical and thermal properties to PET from commercial monomers. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment show that this process is economically viable and exhibits lower environmental impacts than primary production of respective polymers. Net-zero bioplastics are possible when combined with high recycling rates. This study presents a mixed polyester recycling process integrated with monomer separation and purification for both fossil- and bio-based plastics. Techno-economic and life cycle analyses confirm its environmental and commercial advantages, advancing the path toward circular, low-emission polyester plastics.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"568-580"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julia B. Curley, Yuanzhe Liang, Jason S. DesVeaux, Hoon Choi, Ryan W. Clarke, Anjani K. Maurya, William E. Michener, Lisa M. Stanley, Yue Wu, Sarah A. Hesse, Andrea L. Baer, Hudson A. Neyer, Christopher J. Tassone, Alan J. Jacobsen, Ofei D. Mante, Gregg T. Beckham, Katrina M. Knauer
{"title":"Closed-loop recycling of mixed polyesters via catalytic methanolysis and monomer separations","authors":"Julia B. Curley, Yuanzhe Liang, Jason S. DesVeaux, Hoon Choi, Ryan W. Clarke, Anjani K. Maurya, William E. Michener, Lisa M. Stanley, Yue Wu, Sarah A. Hesse, Andrea L. Baer, Hudson A. Neyer, Christopher J. Tassone, Alan J. Jacobsen, Ofei D. Mante, Gregg T. Beckham, Katrina M. Knauer","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00275-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00275-x","url":null,"abstract":"A sustainable plastics future will require high recycling rates and the use of biogenic feedstocks, which together are catalyzing interest in replacing fossil fuel-derived, noncircular polyolefin packaging materials with bio-based, chemically recyclable polyesters. Here we present a catalytic methanolysis process capable of depolymerizing both fossil fuel- and bio-based polyesters, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid, polybutylene adipate terephthalate and polybutylene succinate in one reactor under mild conditions with high monomer yields. We scaled this process to 1 kg and integrated separations engineering using activated carbon, crystallization, extraction and distillation to remove contaminants and recover individual monomers from depolymerized mixed polyesters with high yield and purity. PET synthesized from monomers isolated from postconsumer materials showed comparable mechanical and thermal properties to PET from commercial monomers. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment show that this process is economically viable and exhibits lower environmental impacts than primary production of respective polymers. Net-zero bioplastics are possible when combined with high recycling rates. This study presents a mixed polyester recycling process integrated with monomer separation and purification for both fossil- and bio-based plastics. Techno-economic and life cycle analyses confirm its environmental and commercial advantages, advancing the path toward circular, low-emission polyester plastics.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"568-580"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Closing the loop on mixed polyester recycling","authors":"Kevin M. Van Geem","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00278-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00278-8","url":null,"abstract":"Chemical recycling of mixed polyester waste presents a monumental challenge for achieving a circular plastics economy due to material incompatibility and contamination. Now, a catalytic methanolysis process demonstrates a scalable, efficient and selective method for recycling mixed polyester waste.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"531-532"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Closing the loop on mixed polyester recycling","authors":"Kevin M. Van Geem","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00278-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00278-8","url":null,"abstract":"Chemical recycling of mixed polyester waste presents a monumental challenge for achieving a circular plastics economy due to material incompatibility and contamination. Now, a catalytic methanolysis process demonstrates a scalable, efficient and selective method for recycling mixed polyester waste.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"531-532"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A search-and-branch mechanism for microtubule sensing","authors":"Ryota Sakamoto, Yusuke T. Maeda","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00276-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00276-w","url":null,"abstract":"An engineered confinement device reveals how the microtubule cytoskeleton senses and adapts to its environment by harnessing the interplay between catastrophe instability and branching nucleation.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"537-538"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A search-and-branch mechanism for microtubule sensing","authors":"Ryota Sakamoto, Yusuke T. Maeda","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00276-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00276-w","url":null,"abstract":"An engineered confinement device reveals how the microtubule cytoskeleton senses and adapts to its environment by harnessing the interplay between catastrophe instability and branching nucleation.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"537-538"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Best practices in the characterization of porous materials for CO2 capture","authors":"Matthew N. Dods, Jeffrey R. Long","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00266-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00266-y","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid commercialization of carbon capture technologies has underscored the need for careful evaluation of sorbents capable of selective CO2 capture. This Comment identifies several key considerations in taking porous CO2 capture materials from the laboratory to commercial scale.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"515-519"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Best practices in the characterization of porous materials for CO2 capture","authors":"Matthew N. Dods, Jeffrey R. Long","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00266-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00266-y","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid commercialization of carbon capture technologies has underscored the need for careful evaluation of sorbents capable of selective CO2 capture. This Comment identifies several key considerations in taking porous CO2 capture materials from the laboratory to commercial scale.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"515-519"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fuel cells as lifelong learners","authors":"Mo Qiao","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00272-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00272-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 8","pages":"464-464"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pulse and parse","authors":"Yanfei Zhu","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00267-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00267-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 8","pages":"463-463"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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