Aqua‐Oxidation of Polyethylene Into Carboxylic Acids Under Mild Conditions: A Catalyst‐Free Upcycling Strategy for Nonpolar Plastics
Abstract
ABSTRACT Noncatalytic polyolefin upcycling offers distinct advantages in eliminating catalyst costs and enhancing operational stability, yet it remains highly challenging under mild conditions. Herein, we develop an aqua‐oxidation strategy that converts polyethylene into carboxylic acids at 160°C without using any catalysts or organic solvents. The mass yield of carboxylic acid is up to 97.8 wt%, of which 72.1% is comprised by C 4 –C 10 dicarboxylic acids. The roles of H 2 O and O 2 play in aqua‐oxidation were further investigated in an in situ liquid‐phase spectroscopic reactor filled with isotope‐labeled D 2 O. It reveals that O 2 governs the effective initiation and oxidation of polyethylene. Whereas H 2 O serves as a key medium to intensify oxygen–polyethylene interaction uniformly and inhibit localized oxidation, promoting selective upcycling to narrow‐distributed acids. Moreover, this strategy allows for upcycling diverse commercial polyolefins with additives. This study presents a breakthrough in the noncatalytic upcycling of polyolefins under mild conditions and demonstrates the potential of this eco‐friendly and streamlined strategy for advancing plastic circularity.
Article Details
Authors (11)
Yinlong Chang
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang P. R. China
Weiqiang Gao
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang P. R. China
Sen Wang
State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion
Bangban Zhu
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang P. R. China
Kexuan Zhao
School of physical science and technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
Jijiang Hu
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang P. R. China
Khak Ho Lim
Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, 78 Jiuhua Boulevard North, Quzhou 324000, Zhejiang China
Pingwei Liu
Wen‐Jun Wang
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang P. R. China
Bo‐Geng Li
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang P. R. China
Qingyue Wang