Depolymerization of Waste Polycarbonates to Value-Added Products.

Abstract

Additive free aminolysis method developed for the depolymerization/upcycling of polycarbonates. We report here chemical recycling of polycarbonate under ambient conditions to get its monomer bisphenol A, monoaminocarbamate and biscarbamates in 1 : 2 : 1 ratio respectively. By employing the secondary amine as the aminating reagent, facilitates the depolymerization to work under additive/catalyst free conditions. The developed method deals with depolymerization of waste polycarbonates and works even with late-stage amine derivatives such as amoxapine and desloratadine which are drugs molecules known to treat neurotic disorders and allergies respectively. The reaction can be scaled up and works with similar efficacy which depicts the efficiency of the depolymerization of wasteend-of-life polycarbonate plastic waste. The biscarbamate and bisphenol-A was further subjected for the post functionalization to obtain amides and phenol in good yields.