Researcher(s)
- Isaac Kraenbring, Chemistry, Elizabethtown
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Joel Rosenthal, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware
- Mary Watson, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware
Abstract
8.3 Billion tons of plastics have been produced since 1950, only 9% of which has been recycled. The remaining 91% of plastic waste has been incinerated, disposed into landfills, or has entered the environment. To address this issue, new recycling and upcycling methods are being developed to valorize plastic waste. One such method for addressing plastic waste is electrochemical upcycling. Electrochemistry is a sustainable avenue for organic synthesis as it uses mild reagents, can be powered by renewable energy, and can be easily translated from the benchtop to pilot scales. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), known commercially as acrylic glass, is a commodity plastic that is seldom recycled. We have explored a potential route to address PMMA waste by chemically converting it to poly (methyl acrylic acid) (PMAA), and then leveraging non-Kolbe electrochemistry to decarboxylate the polymer and install methoxy groups. This strategy yields a new copolymer consisting of PMAA and poly (2-methoxy propene) (PMOP), which is not readily accessible using traditional synthetic means, making this an exciting opportunity to explore both this reaction route and the new copolymer’s properties.