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Efficient depolymerization and chemical conversion of polyamide 66 to 1,6-hexanediol

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Abstract

Polyamide 66 was efficiently depolymerized and chemically converted by treatment with supercritical MeOH in the presence of glycolic acid. The dicarboxylic acid unit of the polymer was selectively converted to dimethyl adipate, while the diamine unit of the polymer was converted to 1,6-hexane diol via a tetramethyldiamine intermediate. The reaction in the absence of glycolic acid was sluggish, and the yields of the diester and the diol were poor. Thus, glycolic acid efficiently catalyzed the reaction to produce 1,6-hexanediol in high yield.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research A (24241023) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Correspondence to Akio Kamimura.

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Matsumoto, H., Akinari, Y., Kaiso, K. et al. Efficient depolymerization and chemical conversion of polyamide 66 to 1,6-hexanediol. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 19, 326–331 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-015-0425-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-015-0425-4

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