The Problem:
Polyurethane is a versatile polymer used for applications in industries such as footwear, construction materials, and many other products. Polyester, another synthetic material, is commonly used in textiles, packaging, electronics, and other industrial uses. Both these plastics end up as landfill waste and can release harmful chemicals into soil or water and pose a threat to marine life or human health when microplastics enter the food chain. While polyesters are more commonly recycled because of the ability to reprocess the material, conventional polyurethane can only be downcycled into less useful materials using mechanical or chemical recycling methods.
The Solution:
Researchers at the University of Alabama have developed a chemical method to recycle polyesters and polyurethanes into small molecules. The method would allow these small molecules to be recycled without requiring solvents or additional components. This method would enable producers that utilize polyurethane and polyesters to produce more of these molecules cost-effectively. Recycling these small molecules would allow producers to use the small molecules to make new plastics or transform them into valuable materials.
Benefits: