Catalyst For Transesterification Research Articles

Towards Photothermal Acid Catalysts Using Eco-Sustainable Sulfonated Carbon Nanoparticles—Part II: Thermal and Photothermal Catalysis of Biodiesel Synthesis

The main goal of this work is to evaluate the ability of sulfonated carbon nanoparticles (SCNs) to induce photothermal catalysis of the biodiesel synthesis reaction (transesterification of natural triglycerides (TGs) with alcohols). Carbon nanoparticles (CNs) are produced by the carbonization of cross-linked resin nanoparticles (RNs). The RNs are produced by condensation of a phenol (resorcinol or natural tannin) with formaldehyde under ammonia catalysis (Stober method). The method produces nanoparticles, which are carbonized into carbon nanoparticles (CNs). The illumination of CNs increases the temperature proportionally (linear) to the nanoparticle concentration and exposure time (with saturation). Solid acid catalysts are made by heating in concentrated sulfuric acid (SEAr sulfonation). The application of either light or a catalyst (SCNs) (at 25 °C) induced low conversions (<10%) for the esterification reaction of acetic acid with bioethanol. In contrast, the illumination of the reaction medium containing SCNs induced high conversions (>75%). In the case of biodiesel synthesis (transesterification of sunflower oil with bioethanol), conversions greater than 40% were observed only when light and the catalyst (SCNs) were applied simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible to use sulfonated carbon nanoparticles as photothermally activated catalysts for Fischer esterification and triglyceride transesterification (biodiesel synthesis).

Immobilized tetrabutylammonium amino acid ionic liquids as heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production from Chlorella vulgaris

Ionic liquids (ILs) are molten salts below 100 °C with the ability to be used as a catalyst for biodiesel production. However, to this date, the implementation of ILs as catalysts remains an enigma due to their practicability. Immobilizing ILs onto waste biomass solid support may improve the sustainability of its implementation. This study is focused on synthesizing immobilized tetrabutylammonium amino acid ionic liquids (TBA AAILs) onto bamboo activated carbon (BAC) as catalysts in transesterification of fatty acids extracted from Chlorella vulgaris. Three AAILs, consisting of tetrabutylammonium paired with arginine, histidine, and lysine, were synthesized via neutralization reaction and immobilized onto BAC through wet impregnation method. Thereafter, microwave-assisted transesterification was performed with C. vulgaris as a feedstock. Impregnation of TBA AAILs caused modifications on morphology, chemical composition, and surface area of the BAC. [TBA][His]/BAC had greater impact compared to [TBA][Arg]/BAC and [TBA][Lys]/BAC, where it reduced the surface area up to 35 m2/g and pore volume to 0.020 cm3/g, initially BAC's surface area are 842 m2/g and pore volume of 0.387 cm3/g. Optimization with the Box-Behnken method achieved the highest yield 81.9 % FAME using 20 % [TBA][His]/BAC with 3 % of catalyst dosage and 21 gs of methanol at 80 °C for 48 mins with three times reusability. The immobilized TBA AAILs/BAC reduced IL consumption by 10 times and obtained comparatively higher yield than TBA AAILs, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional ILs catalyst.

Basicity-tuned graphitic carbon nitride supported MgO heterogeneous catalysts for efficient transesterification of groundnut oil to biodiesel

Quality and quantity of biodiesel derived from oil depend on the type of feedstock and the transesterification process. To maximize biodiesel production efficiency and ensure the desired fuel quality, it is crucial to develop and optimize feedstock-specific production processes. This study reports on the transesterification of groundnut oil using a heterogeneous catalyst. Magnesium oxide (MgO) and its composites with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) at 10, 30, and 50 wt% (MG10, MG30, MG50) were used. The composite catalyst combines basic sites from MgO and Lewis acid sites from the nitrogen atoms in the g-C3N4 triazine unit, giving rise to synergistic effects that enhances biodiesel production. MgO nanoparticles were synthesized via precipitation, followed by calcination at 500 °C, and MgO/g-C3N4 composites were prepared by grinding at different ratios. Morphological and structural studies confirmed material characteristics. BET analysis indicated an increased surface area of 71.39 m2/g, enhancing catalytic activity, while SEM revealed the agglomerated g-C3N4 and the cubic morphology of MgO. Response surface methodology was used to optimize catalyst loading, temperature, and reaction time parameters. The optimal conditions for biodiesel conversion using MG50 composite was determined to be methanol/oil ratio of 6:1, 2.5 wt% catalyst loading, 41.7 °C reaction temperature and spanning 52 min of reaction, yielding 94 % efficiency. GC–MS analysis confirmed successful transesterification, identifying key fatty acid esters such as ethyl oleate (34.72 %) and hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (7.69 %). This work supports further research into feedstock-specific catalysts for industrial biodiesel applications.

Synthesis and Characterization of KOH/Bentonite Catalyst for Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil into Fatty Acid Methyl Esters

Synthesis and Characterization of KOH/Bentonite Catalyst for Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil into Fatty Acid Methyl Esters

Influence of crystallinity of zeolite NaX as a support for potassium catalyst in transesterification of palm oil

Zeolite NaX samples synthesized from varying hydrothermal times (HTx, x = 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h) were impregnated with potassium (K) to produce K/HTx as catalysts in the transesterification of palm oil with methanol. The goal of this work is to explore the influence of the crystallinity of zeolite NaX on biodiesel production. The findings from XRD, N2 sorption, SEM-EDS, FTIR, and CO2-TPD demonstrate that the longer hydrothermal treatment times enhance the zeolite NaX crystallinity. A pure phase of zeolite NaX was achieved from hydrothermal times of 8 h or longer. The HT0 and HT4 exhibited poor crystallinity, and consequently, the supported catalysts, K/HT0 and K/HT4, provided low biodiesel yields (29.7 % and 43.9 %, respectively) despite having similar surface area, functional groups, and morphology. The catalysts supported on fully crystallized zeolite NaX gave biodiesel yields of about 80 %. The enhanced crystallinity of zeolite increased the basicity of the K/NaX, resulting in an improved catalytic performance for the transesterification of palm oil.

Maximization of Micractinium sp., biomass and use of Dual-Purpose reduced graphene supported vanadium oxide nanoparticles for harvesting and subsequent biodiesel production

A sustainable media composition comprising of nanourea (NU), groundnut de-oiled cake (GDOC), and seaweed Extract (SE) was formulated using a mixture design for the cultivation of Micractinium sp. Maximum biomass yield and productivity of 5.52 ± 0.09 g L−1 and 0.72 ± 0.03 g L−1 d−1 were observed at 1.67 mM NU, 0.134 g L−1 GDOC and 0.250 mL L−1 SE, respectively. The highest lipid yield of 2.73 ± 0.24 g L−1 was also observed, respectively. The reduced graphene-supported vanadium oxide nanoparticles (RGO-VNPs) with a net surface charge of + 34.10 mV were developed, which acted as a flocculant as well as a catalyst for transesterification. A maximum flocculation efficiency of 98 % was observed with 200 ppm of RGO-VNPs. The Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) yield of 96.81 ± 1.61 % was observed. Thus, the present study could provide a plausible solution for one-pot harvesting and synthesis of biodiesel utilizing microalgal lipids.

Transesterification of waste cooking oil for biodiesel production using alkaline-modified graphitic carbon nitride heterogeneous catalyst

ABSTRACT Developing efficient, stable, cost-effective, and environmentally benign heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification is highly required for sustainable biodiesel production. The present study explores the biodiesel production from waste cooking oil (WCO) using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and its alkaline-modified nanocatalyst. The catalysts were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). From the XRD analysis, crystalline sizes of g-C3N4 and alkaline g-C3N4 were found to be 26 and 29 nm, respectively. Transesterification of WCO was carried out at 60 °C for a reaction time of 2 h using 2 wt.% of g-C3N4 and alkaline g-C3N4. Transesterification reaction catalysed by alkaline-modified g-C3N4 was found with a higher yield of biodiesel (89%) than the biodiesel yield (78%) with transesterification reaction catalysed by g-C3N4. The recyclability of both catalysts was also evaluated by reusing them for up to the 5th cycle. The obtained biodiesel was analyzed by using FTIR and GC-MS. The synthesised biodiesel was found to have significant level of monounsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids, which make it usefuel for use as fuel. Some physicochemical properties of the obtained biodiesel were also calculated and found appropriate as per the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. With high reusability and good catalytic activity, the synthesised alkaline-modified g-C3N4 can be employed as a viable option for biodiesel production from WCO.

Transesterification catalyst strength as observed by solution-based oxygen-17 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Natural abundance oxygen-17 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (17O-NMR) was applied to study homogeneous transesterification catalysts for fatty acid methyl ester production. Alkoxide catalysts were made with selected permutations of lithium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium hydroxides with ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, and glycerol. Pilot scale transesterification reactions of Canola oil were completed and the 17O-NMR spectra were collected from the reaction products. The alkoxide solutions showed the downfield shifts relative to the reagent alcohol, in a linear relationship with the concentration of catalyst ion. The electron deshielding of the oxygen of the alkoxide catalyst is observed directly by 17O-NMR, and the fastest catalyst has the largest downfield (high frequency) shift. This effect is most pronounced in potassium methoxide and less pronounced for less polar solvents such as isopropanol.

Valorization of Glycerol to Glycerol Carbonate and Glycidol by Different Dialkyl Carbonates Utilizing Tricalcium Aluminate Hexahydrate as Transesterification Catalyst

AbstractIn this study, we report a base‐catalyzed transesterification reaction of glycerol, a waste product of the biodiesel industry, with various dialkyl carbonates, which act both as reactants and solvents, to convert glycerol carbonate into an industrially useful molecular building block. The catalyst, being used for the first time, is also a waste product from industry, present in bauxite residues and in the Portland cement, simply known as tricalcium aluminate. Despite being well‐known and readily available, this solid is only extremely poorly researched catalyst, nevertheless, using dimethyl and diethyl carbonate, glycerol conversion rates >80% and glycerol carbonate yields >60% could be achieved in just 1 h (under air atmosphere and reflux). In a comparison of the performance with other catalysts commonly researched today, as well as with other components of red mud and cements, the results showed that tricalcium aluminate is excellent, cheap, and largely environmentally friendly material for this purpose. Reusability studies of the catalysts have also shown that they provide high conversion and product yields even after repeated use, although different material characterization techniques showed intense glycerol‐catalyst surface interaction and intermediate product formation, the deactivating side effects of which could be avoided by catalyst regeneration steps.

Comparative Studies on Methyl Ester Production from Pretreated Sludge Palm Oil Using Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Base Catalysts

A heterogeneous base catalyst transesterification process with a calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst was performed to produce high-purity methyl ester (ME) from pretreated sludge palm oil (PSPO) derived from sludge palm oil (SPO). Additionally, a comparative analysis was conducted with potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a homogeneous base catalyst to assess the distinctions between heterogeneous and homogeneous base catalysts. The response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to determine the optimal and recommended conditions for both transesterification processes. For heterogeneous transesterification, a varying CaO catalyst loading (10–60 wt.%), methanol (25–65 wt.%), and reaction time (60–180 min) were essential parameters. Meanwhile, homogeneous transesterification involved investigating the KOH catalyst loading (1–3 wt.%), methanol (1.8–5.5 wt.%), and reaction time (20–60 min). For the heterogeneous-base-catalyzed reaction, the recommended conditions were as follows: a molar ratio of methanol to oil of 5.83:1 (41.61 wt.%), 31.3 wt.% CaO, and a reaction time of 119.0 min, which resulted in a ME purity of 96.51 wt.%. The optimal conditions for homogeneous transesterification were a molar ratio of methanol to oil of 0.49:1 (3.45 wt.%), a 40 min reaction time, and a 1.39 wt.% KOH concentration, which achieved 96.59 wt.% ME and met the standard.

Thermal activation of basic oxygen furnace slag as a heterogeneous catalyst in transesterification: Characterization and catalytic activity studies

The valorization of industrial by-products has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its potential to enhance sustainability and economic efficiency within various sectors. Basic Oxygen Furnace slag (BOF-S), a by-product generated in the steelmaking process characterized by its complex composition, presents an opportunity for waste management and resource recovery. This study investigates the potential of BOF-S as a catalyst in converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel via the transesterification reaction. To improve its efficiency, BOF-S was calcined at 850 °C (BOF-S 850), and 1000 °C (BOF-S 1000), for 5 h. The BOF-S was characterized using XRF, N2 sorption, XRD, TGA-DSC, SEM-EDS and FTIR. The characterization techniques showed that the BOF-S 850 had superior characteristics as a catalyst: rough surface, increased pore size and more active basic sites compared to the BOF-S and the BOF-S 1000 slag samples. The transesterification reaction was conducted at a methanol: oil ratio of 20:1, a catalyst loading of 20 wt %, a reaction time of 12 h, a reaction temperature of 60 °C, and a stirring speed of 750 rpm. The findings established that the BOF-S 850 was the best catalyst, with a 90.77 % biodiesel yield and was able to sustain a maximum of two transesterification cycle runs.

Influence of Solid Alkaline Photocatalysts Irradiated with UV Light on Fuel Properties of Palm Oil Biodiesel.

TiO2 nanoparticles are full of porosity that can be impregnated with a strong alkaline catalyst CH3ONa to form a TiO2/CH3ONa catalyst. TiO2 of the anatase phase, which is a semiconductor material, has been a prominent photocatalyst due to its excited photocatalyst activity, chemical and biological stability, and nontoxicity. The CH3ONa compound has been widely used as a catalyst for transesterification. Although the synthesized photocatalyst TiO2 powder with CH3ONa is anticipated to greatly enhance the transesterification efficiency, leading to improving biodiesel properties, relevant studies have not been found. After the photocatalyst was prepared, a reactant mixture of palm oil, methanol, and heterogeneous catalyst TiO2/CH3ONa was illuminated by ultraviolet (UV) light from light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. The experimental results revealed that the formation of fatty acid methyl esters was significantly increased to 98.4% with ultraviolet-light illumination for the molar ratio of methanol/palm oil equal to 6 and 3 wt % catalyst addition. The decrease of the catalyst amount to 2 wt % resulted in a slight decrease of the fatty acid methyl esters to 97.06 wt %. The lowest kinematic viscosity and acid value and the highest distillation temperature, heating value, and cetane index were observed under the above reaction conditions. The distillation temperature and cetane index were increased while the acid value was decreased under ultraviolet illumination on the reactant mixture. Consequently, the optimum preparing conditions for biodiesel production were 6 and 3 wt % for the molar ratio of methanol/palm oil and catalyst addition under UV-light irradiation.

From organic waste to renewable energy: response surface methodology approach for optimized biodiesel production from palm weevil larvae (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)

AbstractThis study aimed to improve the production of biodiesel from white palm larvae (WPL) and to evaluate its potential as a feedstock. The larvae were grown using kitchen and palm waste for 21 days, and the crude oil was then extracted. The extracted oil was analyzed for its physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition. The analysis found that the feedstock oil contained a high quantity of monounsaturated fatty acids, indicating its suitability for biodiesel production. To optimize the production process, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed. A central composite design was used to study four operating conditions: temperature, methanol‐to‐oil mole ratio, esterification time, and catalyst loading for esterification, as well as transesterification time and catalyst concentration. The best conditions for esterification were a methanol‐to‐oil ratio of 18:1, a temperature of 70 °C, 120 min of reaction time, and a 4% H2SO4 catalyst. For transesterification, the optimal conditions were a methanol‐to‐oil ratio of 10:1, a temperature of 65 °C, 90 min of reaction time, and a 2% KOH catalyst concentration. The experimental data fit well with models, with significant P‐values and high R2 values. The biodiesel produced under the optimized conditions met the fuel quality standards set by Brazilian, European, and American standards. In conclusion, this study successfully optimized the biodiesel production process from white palm larvae and confirmed its suitability as a feedstock. The feedstock oil had properties that were suitable for biodiesel production, and the optimized conditions resulted in biodiesel that met fuel‐quality standards.

In-situ stabilized lipase in calcium carbonate microparticles for activation in solvent-free transesterification for biodiesel production

Biodiesel serves as a crucial biofuel alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuels, achieved through enzymatic transesterification of oil substrates. This study aims to investigate stabilized lipase (LP) within calcium carbonate (CaCO3) microparticles as a catalyst for solvent-free transesterification in biodiesel synthesis. The specific hydrolysis activity of the in-situ immobilized LP was 66% of that of free LP. However, the specific transesterification activity of immobilized LP in the solvent-free phase for biodiesel production was 2.29 times higher than that of free LP. These results suggest that the interfacial activation of LP molecules is facilitated by the inorganic CaCO3 environment. The immobilized LP demonstrated higher biodiesel production levels with superior stability compared to free LP, particularly regarding methanol molar ratio and temperature. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous reports on the in-situ immobilization of LP in a CaCO3 carrier without any crosslinker as an interfacial-activated biocatalyst for biodiesel production.

Rejuvenating liquid crystal elastomers for self-growth

To date, only one polymer can self-grow to an extended length beyond its original size at room temperature without external stimuli or energy input. This breakthrough paves the way for significant advancements in untethered autonomous soft robotics, eliminating the need for the energy input or external stimuli required by all existing soft robotics systems. However, only freshly prepared samples in an initial state can self-grow, while non-fresh ones cannot. The necessity of synthesizing from monomers for each use imposes significant limitations on practical applications. Here, we propose a strategy to rejuvenate non-fresh samples to their initial state for on-demand self-growth through the synergistic effects of solvents and dynamic covalent bonds during swelling. The solvent used for swelling physically transforms the non-fresh LCEs from the liquid crystal phase to the isotropic phase. Simultaneously, the introduction of the transesterification catalyst through swelling facilitates topological rearrangements through exchange reactions of dynamic covalent bonds. The rejuvenation process can also erase growth history, be repeated several times, and be regulated by selective swelling. This strategy provides a post-modulation method for the rejuvenation and reuse of self-growing LCEs, promising to offer high-performance materials for cutting-edge soft growing robotics.

Fe-doped TiO2 nanocrystals as highly efficient catalysts for heterogeneous catalytic transesterification of coconut oil

BackgroundThe impact of Fe doped TiO2 nanocatalyst on the heterogeneous catalytic transesterification reaction of coconut oil into biodiesel has been investigated. MethodsThe nanocatalyst was prepared by sol-gel method using titanium isopropoxide as TiO2 precursor and Fe(NO3)3 as iron (Fe) source. Several conditions of Fe-TiO2 were synthesized, each with Fe concentration of 0.5 %, 1 %, and 1.5 %, and calcined at 500 °C. The nanocatalyst's physical and chemical characteristics including phase crystallinity and morphology were examined. Significant findingsWe found that the biodiesel conversion efficiency increases with the increasing of Fe content in the Fe-TiO2 nanocatalyst and optimum at the Fe concentration of 1.5 % (w/w). The optimal Fe-TiO2 nanocatalyst could yield biodiesel output as high as 30.8 %, under at a relatively low temperature of 60 °C. Furthermore, the presence of the nanocatalyst effectively reduced the free fatty acid content in the biodiesel product by 1.43 %. Moreover, the acidity of the produced biodiesel was exceptionally low, at 0.02 %, primarily attributed to lauric acid. These exceptional performances are believed to be attributed to the enhanced surface chemistry properties of the Fe-TiO2 nanocatalyst. The Fe-TiO2 system is expected to find extensive application in the cost-effective production of biodiesel.

Compatibilizing and foaming of PC/PMMA composites with nano‐cellular structures in the presence of transesterification catalyst

AbstractCompatibility of polycarbonate (PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) alloys was improved by using a transesterification catalyst (SnCl2·2H2O). Modified PC/PMMA alloys exhibit single Tg, and their initial island phase existing in the SEM were transformed into uniform surface. Besides, the transmittance of the modified alloys was increased from original 40% to 85%. Moreover, PC/PMMA alloys and PC foams with micro‐cellular and nano‐cellular structures were prepared by solid‐state CO2 foaming in the presence of transesterification catalyst. Distinctively, there are obvious nano‐cellular structures existing in the PC samples, but no related nanostructures were found in PMMA samples, after treated by same amount of catalyst and foaming process for pure PC and PMMA matrix. Furthermore, the effects of foaming temperature and segment structure on their foaming behavior were also studied. Additionally, a uniaxial stress experiment was conducted at a specific temperature to simulate the biaxial stress during the foaming process for discovering the mechanism of nanopore formation. Therefore, the concept of nano‐cellular structures will point out a direction for the development of high‐performance, heat insulation PC materials of the next generation.Highlights Transesterification catalysts enhanced compatibility between PC and PMMA. Nanopore structures were successfully constructed in PC foams. Segment stretching was the main reason for the formation of nanopores.

Comparison of potassium catalysts on zeolite sodium A and X in transesterification of palm oil and active species specification

Heterogeneous catalysts consisting of potassium supported on zeolites are active for transesterification, but the effect of zeolite properties is not clearly understood. This work compares catalysts containing 12 wt.% potassium on zeolite sodium A and X (12K/NaA and 12K/NaX) in terms of performance and physicochemical properties. Both catalysts were prepared by ultrasound-assisted impregnation with potassium acetate buffer. 12K/NaA is a better catalyst in transesterification of palm oil, giving a higher biodiesel yield than 12K/NaX in the first run (99.1 ± 0.3 % and 77.9 ± 2.2 %, respectively). From characterization by CO2-TPD, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and SEM-EDS, both catalysts have similar basicity but different dispersion of carbonates and interaction on the zeolites. The 12K/NaA has those species on external surfaces and more monodentate carbonate than 12K/NaX. Ion exchange occurs between potassium ions from the precursor and sodium ions from the zeolite. Moreover, 12K/NaA is more stable, providing higher biodiesel yields in the second and third catalytic cycles.

Effectiveness of empty fruit bunch ash as the catalyst for palm oil transesterification

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) resulted from oil palm plantations and mills can be converted into ash through open combustion. The EFB ash then treated by simple calcination and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. The characteristics of EFB ash were identified based on its elemental composition, porous structure, and active site size. The effectivity of the EFB ash as a catalyst was tested in a transesterification reaction of Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil (RBDPO) with excess methanol (30 %-w) in various catalyst loads (in%-wt). The lab-scale experiments were conducted in a three-neck glass reactor, which was put on the hot plate stirrer at 450 rpm. The EFB ash performed the best as a catalyst by attaining optimal conversion at 65 °C for 1 h with a 16 %-wt of catalyst load. In this condition, most of the standard quality of biodiesel were complied with total glycerol under 0.24% and ester methyl contents up to 98.9 %. The characteristics tests showed that the properties and active side of the EFB ash are excellent after calcination at 600 for 5 h. The recyclability test of EFB ash as a catalyst showed high performance in two repetition cycles, each showing an increase in the yield of biodiesel, which was 92.21 % in cycle 2 and 91.23 % in cycle 3.

Degradation of a Wholly Aromatic Main-Chain Thermotropic Liquid-Crystalline Polymer Mediated by Superbases.

Plastic circular economy needs to be established to solve environmental issues related to plastic waste. Superengineering plastics such as liquid-crystalline (LC) polymers exhibit excellent thermal and mechanical properties, resulting in poor degradability in natural environment. Herein, we report the degradation of a wholly aromatic thermotropic LC polyester, poly(4-hydroxybenzoic acid-co-6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid) (Vectra) mediated by superbases. Methanolysis and hydrolysis of Vectra yield its monomeric compounds, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, and their methyl esters. Among several transesterification catalysts explored, 1,5,7-triazabicylco[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) is the most suitable for the methanolysis of Vectra. The complete degradation of Vectra is achieved under reflux. The degradation proceeds heterogeneously via a surface erosion mechanism, preferentially starting from less chain-packed regions. Model reactions using aryl arylates reveal that monomeric compound-superbase complexes could mediate the cleavage of the ester bonds in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. The ester bonds of Vectra have inherent poor reactivity and are protected by oriented robust structures of the polymer. Nevertheless, the superbases enable the degradation of Vectra via the cleavage of the ester bonds by methanol. These outcomes open the way for recycling high-performance plastics as well as demonstrate the feasibility of recovering precious aromatic compounds from plastic waste as aromatic feedstock.