Lukasz Pazdur project coordinator

Research Lukasz Pazdur

Research team

Expertise

The expertise in oleochemistry. More specifically on chemical and biochemical modification of natural raw products (mostly oils and fats). Valorization of unsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives (isomerization of double bond by means of boron chemistry, chemical functionalization of fatty acids derivatives, synthesis of long chain bifunctional compounds as a perfect starting material for bioplastics production). Heterogeneous catalysis in oleochemistry and on synthesis and properties of novel monomers for biopolymers production.

Recycling Latex foam and Rubber as a Green Feedstock through Depolymerisation and Functionalization by Ozonolysis (RecycLAT). 01/07/2020 - 31/12/2021

Abstract

Natural rubber is a biopolymer with many applications, but its recycling and reuse are an especially challenging problem. Until now, the most prevalent waste treatment method for rubber is either burning or landfills. Devulcanization of the rubber, necessary for for its reuse as an elastomer, is extremely difficult. Use of rubber as a green feedstock, after a useful life as an elastomer, has hardly been explored. Ozonolysis is a polyvalent technique that finds application in cutting C=C double bonds in a polymer and creating terminal functionalities where the chain has been cut. In this way, it must be possible to depolymerize natural rubber to use as feedstock for other condensation polymers that are easier to recycle than rubber itself. This, then, is the threefold goal of this project: 1. Depolymerization of rubber – latex foam and ground rubber tire- into oligomeric materials with terminal functionalization, and researching the influence of the process parameters of ozonolysis on the properties and chain lengths of these materials. 2. Researching the fate during this process of the cross-links that are created in natural latex during vulcanization. 3. Using the example of rubber as a case in the development of LCA and TEA tools, and provide real-time feedback from these studies to this project with regard to the use of certain chemicals, solvents and the general technical-economic feasibility of the process during its development.

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

CycloPUR – Fundamental insights in reversible polymerization of polyurethanes. 01/07/2019 - 31/12/2020

Abstract

Polyurethanes (PU) are versatile group of polymers, being used increasingly in diverse applications; for instance in mattresses, building foams, automotive and adhesives. PU is a cross-linked polycondensation polymer, in which polyols (polyhydroxyl alcohols) react with highly reactive diisocyanates. As a thermoset (they do not have a melting point), PU is difficult to recycle, and the current state-of-the-art mechanical recycling results in low-value materials. Nonetheless, chemolysis (chemical depolymerization) has been explored since decades as an alternative, yet was only commercially developed for polyol recovery. The absence of a working technology for recovery of diisocyanate derivatives is largely due to the complexity of these molecules, and a lack of knowledge regarding their chemical fate in a chemolysis process. The proposed STIMPRO aims at understanding how various isocyanate derivatives are formed, and how they react upon alcoholysis, by experiments using model monomers. This knowledge, together with experimental and computational insights in mixing/solubility, will be exploited to create a bottom-up chemolysis process for model polyurethanes. The outcome of the proposed study will be used in subsequent chemolysis of realistic waste polyurethanes, with recovery of both monomers as significant technological novelty. Additionally, the resulting knowledge may be transferred in the future formulation of new polyurethanes with biobased alternative monomers

Researcher(s)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project