Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A novel method to chemically convert waste PET plastic into high–value monolithic materials with excellent flame retardancy, mechanical strength and hydrophobicity

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymer Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pyrolysis or dissolution of waste PET plastics (WPP) by specific solvents, which is inevitable in the resource’s secondary utilization, will lead to chemical bond fracture thus resulting in loss of mechanical strength. This greatly restricts the secondary utilization of WPP. We proposed a simple and economical new chemical method to transform WPP into a high–value monolithic material, which not only solves the problem of environmental pollution, but also provides a new idea for the disposal of WPP. The new high temperature resistant chemical structure Al–O–P–O–Al was successfully generated through the reaction of high temperature resistant adhesive Al(H2PO4)3 (AHP) with the monomer or polymer from dissolved WPP. New chemical bonds such as –OH, C = O, C–Cl, P = O were also formed in the transformed monolithic material structure, and they were the principal reason for the increase in mechanical strength of monolithic material. The original hydrophilic group on the surface of the monolithic material was replaced by the hydrophobic group –CH3 after the treatment by triethoxyoctylsilane (TS). Ultimately, the resulting monolithic material exhibited good comprehensive properties of high flame retardancy, flame retardancy (~ 1300 °C), mechanical strength (maximum compressive strength of 29.1 MPa), and hydrophobicity (water contact angle: 110°). This work has important implications for solving the serious problem of a sharp decline in mechanical strength and inflammability in the reuse of WPP.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data in this study will be given from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Lee Y, Kwon EE, Lee J (2019) Polymers derived from hemicellulosic parts of lignocellulosic biomass. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 18(2):317–334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Huang J, Veksha A, Chan W, Giannis A, Lisak G (2022) Chemical recycling of plastic waste for sustainable material management: a prospective review on catalysts and processes. Renew Sust Energ Rev 154:111866

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kim S, Park C, Lee J (2020) Reduction of polycyclic compounds and biphenyls generated by pyrolysis of industrial plastic waste by using supported metal catalysts: a case study of polyethylene terephthalate treatment. J Hazard Mater 392:122464

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Taniguchi I, Yoshida S, Hiraga K, Miyamoto K, Kimura Y, Oda K (2019) Biodegradation of PET: current status and application aspects. ACS Catal 9(5):4089–4105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Mangesh VL, Padmanabhan S, Tamizhdurai P, Ramesh A (2020) Experimental investigation to identify the type of waste plastic pyrolysis oil suitable for conversion to diesel engine fuel. J Clean Prod 246:119066

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Thiounn T, Smith RC (2020) Advances and approaches for chemical recycling of plastic waste. J Polym Sci 58(10):1347–1364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Jehanno C, Pérez–Madrigal MM, Demarteau J, Sardon H, Dove AP (2019) Organocatalysis for depolymerization. Polym Chem 10(2):172–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vouvoudl EC, Achilias DS (2019) Pyrolytic degradation of common polymers presents in packaging materials. J Therm Anal Calorim 138(4):2683–2689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kim HT, Kim JK, Cha HG, Kang MJ, Lee HS, Uk Khang T, Ju Yun E, Lee DH, Song BK, Park SJ, Joo JC, Kim KH (2019) Biological valorization of poly (ethylene terephthalate) monomers for upcycling waste PET. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 7(24):19396–19406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ügdüler S, Van Geem KM, Denolf R, Roosen M, Mys N, Ragaert K, De Meester S (2020) Towards closed–loop recycling of multilayer and colored PET plastic waste by alkaline hydrolysis. Green Chem 22(16):5376–5394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Liu Q, Li R, Fang T (2015) Investigating and modeling PET methanolysis under supercritical conditions by response surface methodology approach. Chem Eng J 270:535–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Du J, Sun Q, Zeng X, Wang D, Chen J (2020) ZnO nanodispersion as pseudohomogeneous catalyst for alcoholysis of polyethylene terephthalate. Chem Eng Sci 220:115642

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fang P, Liu B, Xu J, Zhou Q, Zhang S, Ma J, Lu X (2018) High–efficiency glycolysis of poly (ethylene terephthalate) by sandwich–structure polyoxometalate catalyst with two active sites. Polym Degrad Stabil 156:22–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hu Y, Wang Y, Zhang X, Qian J, Xing X, Wang X (2020) Synthesis of poly (ethylene terephthalate) based on glycolysis of waste PET fiber. J Macromol Sci A–Chem 57(6):430–438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. More AP, Kute RA, Mhaske ST (2014) Chemical conversion of PET waste using ethanolamine to bis (2–hydroxyethyl) terephthalamide (BHETA) through aminolysis and a novel plasticizer for PVC. Iran Polym J 23(1):59–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tan JPK, Tan J, Park N, Xu K, Chan ED, Yang C, Piunova V, Ji Z, Lim A, Shao J, Bai A, Mantione D, Sardon H, Yang Y, Hedrick J (2019) Upcycling poly (ethylene terephthalate) refuse to advanced therapeutics for the treatment of nosocomial and mycobacterial infections. Macromolecules 52(20):7878–7885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Shukla SR, Harad AM, Jawale S (2009) Chemical recycling of PET waste into hydrophobic textile dyestuffs. Polym Degrad Stabil 94(4):604–609

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. López–Fonseca R, Duque–Ingunza I, Rivas B, Flores–Giraldo L, Gutiérrez–Ortiz JI (2011) Kinetics of catalytic glycolysis of PET wastes with sodium carbonate. Chem Eng J 168(1):312–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gu W, Tan J, Chen J, Zhang Z, Zhao Y, Yu J, Ji G (2020) Multifunctional bulk hybrid foam for infrared stealth, thermal insulation, and microwave absorption. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 12(25):28727–28737

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Deepak Hebbar N, Choudhari KS, Shivashankar SA, Santhosh C, Kulkarni SD (2019) Facile microwave–assisted synthesis of Cr2O3 nanoparticles with high near–infrared reflection for roof–top cooling applications. J Alloy Compd 785:745–753

    Google Scholar 

  21. Xiang X, Zhang Q, Hao M, Hu Y, Lin Z, Peng L, Wang T, Ren X, Wang C, Zhao Z, Wan C, Fei H, Wang L, Zhu J, Sun H, Chen W, Du T, Deng B, Cheng G, Shakir I, Dames C, Fisher T, Zhang X, Li H, Huang Y, Duan X (2019) Double–negative–index ceramic aerogels for thermal superinsulation. Science 363(6428):723–727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Sakuma W, Yamasaki S, Fujisawa S, Kodama T, Shiomi J, Kanamori K, Saito T (2021) Mechanically strong, scalable, mesoporous xerogels of nanocellulose featuring light permeability, thermal insulation, and flame self–extinction. ACS Nano 15(1):1436–1444

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ma Z, Liu X, Xu X, Liu L, Yu B, Maluk C, Huang G, Wang H, Song P (2021) Bioinspired, highly adhesive, nanostructured polymeric coatings for superhydrophobic fire–extinguishing thermal insulation foam. ACS Nano 15(7):11667–11680

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Zeng Z, Mavrona E, Sacré D, Kummer N, Cao J, Müller L, Hack E, Zolliker P, Nystrom G (2021) Terahertz birefringent biomimetic aerogels based on cellulose nanofibers and conductive nanomaterials. ACS Nano 15:7451–7462

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Li X, Dong G, Liu Z, Zhang X (2021) Polyimide aerogel fibers with superior flame resistance, strength, hydrophobicity, and flexibility made via a universal sol–gel confined transition strategy. ACS Nano 15(3):4759–4768

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pawar AA, Kim A, Kim H (2021) Synthesis and performance evaluation of plastic waste aerogel as sustainable and reusable oil absorbent. Environ Pollut 288:117717

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Gao B, Sun X, Yao C, Mao L (2022) A new strategy to chemically transform waste PET plastic into aerogel with high fire resistance and mechanical strength. Polymer 254:125074

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang X, Wang F, Dou L, Cheng X, Si Y, Yu J, Din B (2020) Ultrastrong, superelastic, and lamellar multiarch structured ZrO2 – Al2O3 nanofibrous aerogels with high–temperature resistance over 1300 °C. ACS Nano 14:15616–15625

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Gao B, Sun X, Yao C, Mao L (2022) A new strategy to obtain thin ZrO2–Al2O3 composite aerogel coating with prominent high–temperature resistance and rapid heat dissipation. J Solid–State Chem 314:123384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Jin H, Zhou X, Xu T, Dai C, Gu Y, Yun S, Hu T, Guan G, Chen J (2020) Ultralight and hydrophobic palygorskite–based aerogels with prominent thermal insulation and flame retardancy. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 12(10):11815–11824

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Gao B, Cao J, Yao C, Mao L (2022) High thermally insulating and lightweight Cr2O3–Al2O3 aerogel with rapid–cooling property. Appl Sur Sci 590:153044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gao B, Yao C, Mao L (2022) Loose porous Cr2O3–Al2O3 aerogels with lightweight, flame retardancy, and rapid cooling properties: fabrication and mechanism analysis. J Taiwan Inst Chem E 134:104300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Zhou M, Wang J, Zhao Y, Wang G, Gu W, Ji G (2021) Hierarchically porous wood–derived carbon scaffold embedded phase change materials for integrated thermal energy management, electromagnetic interference shielding and multifunctional application. Carbon 183:515–524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Talent Introduction Program of Changzhou University (ZMF20020433), Key Research & Development Program of Changzhou City (CE20215033), Postgraduate Research & Practical Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (SJCX22_1353), Applied Basic Research Program of Changzhou (CJ20220172) and Analysis and Testing Center, NERC Biomass of Changzhou University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, China

    Bingying Gao, Xuzhang Sun & Chao Yao

  2. Changzhou Na ’ou Technology Co., LTD, Changzhou, 213164, China

    Can Wang

  3. School of Environmental & Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, China

    Linqiang Mao

Authors
  1. Bingying Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xuzhang Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Can Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chao Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Linqiang Mao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Bingying Gao: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Data curation, Writing–original draft, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition. Xuzhang Sun: Characterization, Data curation. Can Wang: Characterization. Chao Yao: Funding acquisition, Supervision. Linqiang Mao: Conceptualization, Write–review & editing, Supervision, Funding acquisition.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chao Yao or Linqiang Mao.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gao, B., Sun, X., Wang, C. et al. A novel method to chemically convert waste PET plastic into high–value monolithic materials with excellent flame retardancy, mechanical strength and hydrophobicity. J Polym Res 30, 154 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-023-03532-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-023-03532-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation