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Electrochemical Depolymerization of Polymers

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 January 2025) | Viewed by 1849

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Anorganische Chemie, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
Interests: sustainable chemistry; green chemistry; electrochemistry; polymer chemistry; biomass conversion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore cutting-edge advances and applications in the field of polymer electrochemical depolymerization. Electrochemical methods offer sustainable and environmentally friendly routes to breaking down complex polymer structures, providing opportunities for efficient recycling and resource recovery. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a diverse range of polymers, including but not limited to biopolymers and biomass-based macromolecules, such as lignin and cellulose, synthetic polymers, and commercial plastics. Contributions may cover fundamental aspects, such as electrode materials, novel solvents and solvent systems, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics, as well as practical applications in the development of novel depolymerization processes and electrochemical devices. This Special Issue also seeks to bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial applications, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing challenges in achieving economically viable and scalable electrochemical depolymerization processes. Researchers, engineers, and practitioners are invited to share their latest findings as original articles and to share extensive reviews on the field, contributing to the collective knowledge base that will drive sustainable solutions for polymer waste management. 

Dr. Bruno Manzolli Rodrigues
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

  • electrochemical depolymerization
  • electrode materials
  • electrocatalysis
  • sustainable chemistry
  • polymer recycling
  • sustainable chemistry
 

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 5877 KiB  
Article
Silver-Catalyzed Aqueous Electrochemical Valorization of Soda Lignin into Aliphatics and Phenolics
by Lucie Lindenbeck, Silas Brand, Franka Stallmann, Vanessa Barra, Marcella Frauscher, Björn B. Beele, Adam Slabon and Bruno V. Manzolli Rodrigues
Polymers 2024, 16(23), 3325; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16233325 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1160
Abstract
Transitioning from crude oil to renewable sources of carbon-based chemicals is critical for advancing sustainable development. Lignin, a wood-derived biomacromolecule, holds great potential as a renewable feedstock, but efficient depolymerization and dearomatization methods are required to fully unlock its potential. In this investigation, [...] Read more.
Transitioning from crude oil to renewable sources of carbon-based chemicals is critical for advancing sustainable development. Lignin, a wood-derived biomacromolecule, holds great potential as a renewable feedstock, but efficient depolymerization and dearomatization methods are required to fully unlock its potential. In this investigation, we present a silver-catalyzed aqueous electrocatalytic method for the selective depolymerization and partial dearomatization of soda lignin under mild, ambient conditions. Utilizing a water/sodium carbonate solvent system and a silver electrode to mediate the electrochemical reduction, we achieved significant lignin depolymerization over reaction times ranging from 5 to 20 h. Analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) revealed sodium levulinate, sodium acetate, and sodium formate as the main aliphatic products, alongside various aromatic species in the depolymerized lignin products (DL). This selective conversion of lignin into both valuable aromatic compounds and reactive aliphatic intermediates offers promising opportunities for further synthesis of a wide range of organic chemicals, contributing to the development of a more sustainable and circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Depolymerization of Polymers)
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