Catalytic production of monomers for sustainable polymers from carbon dioxide and diols

从二氧化碳和二醇催化生产可持续聚合物单体

基本信息

批准号：
EP/N022793/1
负责人：
Antoine Buchard
金额：
$ 12.64万
依托单位：
University of Bath
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2016
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2016 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FN022793%2F1
关键词：
Catalytic production monomers sustainable polymers

项目摘要

Polymers, better known as plastics, are widespread in modern society as they are light, strong, and cheap. Their demand is dramatically increasing and in 2013, 299 megatonnes of plastics were produced worldwide, a 46.5% increase compared to 2002 (source: plasticseurope). However, polymers are regarded as unsustainable as they are environmentally persistent and their production is dependent on finite fossil-based resources. In 2013, 99.5% of plastics were still produced from oil (source: europeanbioplastics). There is therefore an urgent need for further research into the production of sustainable plastics.Additionally, in 2014, 32.3 gigatonnes of waste carbon dioxide (CO2) were released into the atmosphere (source: International Energy Agency). Therefore, polymers made from a cheap and renewable resource like CO2 are highly desirable products. The aim of this proposal is to utilise CO2 as a raw material in the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers, which are the building blocks of polycarbonate polymers. Polycarbonates are furthermore promising materials for numerous applications, including as thermoplastics, binders for photovoltaics, polymer electrolytes, adhesives, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery carriers.The current method used to produce cyclic carbonate monomers employs phosgene, a toxic and energy intensive reagent. Replacing phosgene by CO2 is an exciting scientific challenge that has the potential to transform the economy and impact the environment. Building on our published preliminary results and using an experimental and computational approach, this project will develop catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers directly from CO2 and diols, abundant molecules that can be sourced from nature. These catalysts will ultimately be used to transform carbohydrates from biomass and food waste into new monomers that cannot be accessed using traditional phosgene reagents. This process will provide a vital step towards the valorisation of CO2 and the derivatisation of renewable feedstock like carbohydrates into novel sustainable materials that could generate significant wealth within the UK.

聚合物，俗称塑料，因其重量轻、坚固且便宜而在现代社会中广泛使用。他们的需求急剧增加，2013 年全球生产了 299 兆吨塑料，比 2002 年增加了 46.5%（来源： Plasticseurope）。然而，聚合物被认为是不可持续的，因为它们对环境具有持久性，并且其生产依赖于有限的化石资源。 2013年，99.5%的塑料仍然是由石油生产的（来源：欧洲生物塑料）。因此，迫切需要对可持续塑料的生产进行进一步研究。此外，2014 年，有 32.3 十亿吨废弃二氧化碳 (CO2) 被释放到大气中（来源：国际能源署）。因此，由廉价且可再生的资源（如二氧化碳）制成的聚合物是非常理想的产品。该提案的目的是利用二氧化碳作为合成环状碳酸酯单体的原材料，环状碳酸酯单体是聚碳酸酯聚合物的组成部分。此外，聚碳酸酯还是有许多应用前景的材料，包括作为热塑性塑料、光伏粘合剂、聚合物电解质、粘合剂、组织工程支架和药物输送载体。目前用于生产环状碳酸酯单体的方法采用光气，这是一种有毒且能量密集型试剂。用二氧化碳代替光气是一项令人兴奋的科学挑战，有可能改变经济并影响环境。基于我们已发表的初步结果，并采用实验和计算方法，该项目将开发直接从二氧化碳和二醇（自然界中丰富的分子）合成环状碳酸酯单体的催化剂。这些催化剂最终将用于将生物质和食物垃圾中的碳水化合物转化为使用传统光气试剂无法获得的新单体。这一过程将为二氧化碳的增值和将碳水化合物等可再生原料衍生为新型可持续材料迈出重要一步，从而在英国创造大量财富。