Zhang Minghao, Yu Yunkai, Han Buxing, Mei Qingqing
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Institute of Environment Science and Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Nat Commun. 2025 Aug 12;16(1):7441. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-62916-2.
The upcycling of waste polyesters into high-value chemicals offers a sustainable and economically viable solution to the global plastic waste crisis. Herein, we report a general esterolysis strategy for the efficient depolymerization of polyesters to produce high-value ester products, utilizing a broad range of esters, including carboxylates, carbonates, and C/Si/Ti/P-based esters. Using the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate as a highly effective catalyst, polyethylene terephthalate is selectively converted into dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene carbonate with remarkable yields of 99% and 90%, respectively. Mechanistic studies reveal that methanol, generated in situ via the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate-catalyzed hydrolysis of dimethyl carbonate, drives the cleavage of C-O ester bonds in polyethylene terephthalate. This strategy demonstrates broad applicability, achieving high conversion efficiencies across various mixed and colored commercial waste polyesters. The energy efficiency and versatility of this approach establish a transformative route to diverse high-value esters, advancing the development of circular plastic economies and sustainable chemistry.
将废弃聚酯升级转化为高价值化学品，为全球塑料垃圾危机提供了一种可持续且经济可行的解决方案。在此，我们报道了一种通用的酯解策略，用于聚酯的高效解聚以生产高价值酯产品，该策略使用了多种酯类，包括羧酸盐、碳酸盐以及基于碳/硅/钛/磷的酯类。使用乙酸1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑鎓作为高效催化剂，聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯被选择性地转化为对苯二甲酸二甲酯和碳酸亚乙酯，产率分别高达99%和90%。机理研究表明，通过乙酸1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑鎓催化碳酸二甲酯原位水解生成的甲醇，驱动了聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯中碳-氧酯键的断裂。该策略具有广泛的适用性，在各种混合和有色商业废弃聚酯中均实现了高转化效率。这种方法的能源效率和多功能性为多种高价值酯类建立了一条变革性路线，推动了循环塑料经济和可持续化学的发展。
