Recycling of high-volume polymers is a top priority for all companies around the world, and necessary to achieve their sustainability goals. In addition to such goals, high-volume recycling benefits the environment, stimulates the economy, improves people’s health and water quality, and generates energy needed by consumers in developing regions of the world. Two examples of high-volume polymers are polyolefins, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, and acrylate-based superabsorbent polymers.<br/>The vision for this work is to eliminate polymer waste going to landfills or incineration via introducing recycling and circularity. The objectives of the work are to develop cost- and energy-effective recycling technologies which can: 1) provide circular solutions, via replacing parts of virgin polymers; 2) recycle waste polymers into other products; and 3) be re-applied to other polymers, as appropriate.<br/>More specifically, we will present the examples of a dissolution recycling technology we developed for polypropylene waste and a degradation recycling technology we developed for superabsorbent polymers. The dissolution recycling technology is based on the use of a solvent which causes the polypropylene to be purified from the contaminants associated with its life and recycling journey. Key parameters of the dissolution technology that we will discuss are solvent type; extraction, dissolution, and purification conditions; and product properties. The dissolution technology is currently at the pilot stage. The degradation recycling technology is based on breaking down the crosslinked network of acrylic acid of the superabsorbent polymer waste into smaller fragments which are then purified and can be used in other products, such as coatings or adhesives, or incorporated back into the superabsorbent polymer. Key parameters of the degradation technology are degradation and incorpporation conditions and product properties. The degradation technology is currently at the lab scale.

Circular economy of polyolefins and super absorbent polymers

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.