Acid-assisted depolymerization of RAFT-derived PMMA
- 1George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida PO Box 117200 Gainesville Florida 32611 USA
Abstract
Chemical recycling of vinyl polymers to their constituent monomers offers a route to closed-loop reuse, but depolymerization of polymethacrylates typically requires very high temperatures or catalysts. Here, we show that simple Brønsted acids accelerate the depolymerization of RAFT-derived poly(methyl methacrylate). Addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid increased depolymerization by more than nine-fold within the first hour and by nearly an order of magnitude at longer reaction times relative to thermal depolymerization alone, and this acceleration compounded additively with green-light irradiation. The magnitude and duration of acceleration depended on the identity of the Brønsted acid, suggesting a role for the conjugate base beyond simple proton donation. These results suggest acid addition as a strategy for accelerating depolymerization of RAFT-derived polymers that is compatible with existing thermal and photochemical methods.
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BibTeX
@article{sader2026acidassisted,
title = {{Acid-assisted depolymerization of RAFT-derived PMMA}},
author = {Blanch Khouri Sader and Sagnik Bhattacharya and Uriel A. Ngwa and Lily E. Diodati and Rhys W. Hughes and Brent S. Sumerlin},
journal = {Chemical Science},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1039/d6sc06540f},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc06540f},
note = {CC BY-NC 3.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Acid-assisted depolymerization of RAFT-derived PMMA
AU - Blanch Khouri Sader
AU - Sagnik Bhattacharya
AU - Uriel A. Ngwa
AU - Lily E. Diodati
AU - Rhys W. Hughes
AU - Brent S. Sumerlin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - Chemical Science
DO - 10.1039/d6sc06540f
UR - https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc06540f
AB - Chemical recycling of vinyl polymers to their constituent monomers offers a route to closed-loop reuse, but depolymerization of polymethacrylates typically requires very high temperatures or catalysts. Here, we show that simple Brønsted acids accelerate the depolymerization of RAFT-derived poly(methyl methacrylate). Addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid increased depolymerization by more than nine-fold within the first hour and by nearly an order of magnitude at longer reaction times relative to thermal depolymerization alone, and this acceleration compounded additively with green-light irradiation. The magnitude and duration of acceleration depended on the identity of the Brønsted acid, suggesting a role for the conjugate base beyond simple proton donation. These results suggest acid addition as a strategy for accelerating depolymerization of RAFT-derived polymers that is compatible with existing thermal and photochemical methods.
SN - 2041-6520
SN - 2041-6539
ER -