CO2 and Lignin‐Based Sustainable Polymers with Closed‐Loop Chemical Recycling

Abstract

AbstractThis work highlights the conversion method of chaining up greenhouse gas CO2 with biomass lignin to develop new sustainable, recyclable polymers from abundant and non‐food based renewable resources. A cyclic carbonate monomer has synthesized using a cost‐effective, non‐phosgene‐based, and greener approach under atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The fully programable ring‐opening polymerization is accomplished by varying the catalyst (DBU and TBD), catalyst loading (0.5–5.0%) and reaction time (2–40 min). The best polymer is obtained in 1% TBD with a 30‐min reaction. The precise characterization of the synthesized cyclic carbonate monomer and polymers' structure are established using spectroscopic analyses including 1H, 13C, and 2D HSQC NMR, FT‐IR, and GPC. The new polymers exhibit high molecular weights (Mn: 120.34–154.58 kDa) and adequate thermal stabilities (Td5%: 244–277 °C from TGA and Tg: 33–52 °C from DSC), rendering them advantageous for practical applications. Significantly, the CO2 and lignin‐based polymers have successfully recycled to the monomer for a circular plastic economy by heating at 90 °C for 12 h in the presence of DBU. This process yields original monomers for another polymerization without unwanted changes in chemical structures, presenting an ultimate sustainable solution.