Plastics released to the environment can persist for many decades or longer. Even in conjunction with a more responsible waste management, a non-persistent behaviour is desirable as a backstop. Polyethylene is a case example. Environmental degradation is hampered by its chemically inert hydrocarbon nature. In addition, for the case of linear polyethylene (HDPE) its' high crystallinity is the source of the materials desirable mechanical strength, but also impedes degradation. We have shown that low-densities of ester or cabonate breakpoints in polyethylene chains can enable an efficient closed-loop recycling. These groups in principle also offer themselves for a hydrolytic environmental degradation, although the materials are inert to aqueous acids or base at ambient conditions. This contribution discusses chemical and physical concepts to achieve a non-persistent nature of polyethylene-like materials.

Polyethylene-like materials that degrade abiotically

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ACS Fall 2022

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