Zinc-Catalyzed Depolymerization of the End-of-Life Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)

The depolymerization of end-of-life polymers to valued chemicals (waste-to-chemicals) can be a suitable tool for the transformation from a linear to a circular economy. Therefore, the depolymerization of end-of-life poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate), discussed as sustainable substitute of poly(ethylene terephthalate), was studied. In more detail, in the presence of catalytic amounts of zinc(II) acetate poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) was converted by methanolysis to dimethyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate and ethylene glycol using microwave heating. Turnover frequencies up to 396 h¹ were realized. Interestingly, the products dimethyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate and ethylene glycol can be used as building blocks for the zinc-catalyzed resynthesis of poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate); therefore a recycling is realizable.