Electrochemically Initiated Depolymerization of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)

Efficient depolymerization of polymers with all-carbon backbones under mild conditions would be valuable in chemically recycling commodity plastics. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a commodity thermoplastic that is currently depolymerized at temperatures in excess of 400 °C. Herein, we lower the temperatures needed to depolymerize PMMA by performing radical generation and depropagation with orthogonal stimuli. This first demonstration of electrochemically initiated PMMA depolymerization relies on reduction of phthalimide esters that, upon subsequent decarboxylation, generate polymer-centered radicals. These radicals then spontaneously unzip the polymer back to its monomeric constituents at temperatures as…

• DA
  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

  Award: HR00112430352
• AC
  American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund

  Award: 67035-DNI7
• AR
  Army Research Office

  Awards: W911NF2410186, W911NF2310260