Advances in the degradation and recycling of polyurethanes: biodegradation strategies, MALDI applications, and environmental implications

Abstract

Polyurethanes pose significant environmental challenges due to their limited recyclability and slow biodegradation. This review highlights recent advancements in polyurethanes degradation and recycling, with a particular focus on the application of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization techniques. This methods have made significant progress in analyzing environmental contamination by polyurethanes, offering a detailed understanding of degradation products and polymer structures. The review discusses key advancements in biostimulation and bioaugmentation strategies that have led to notable improvements in polyurethanes degradation rates in soils, offering potential solutions for large-scale waste management. Additionally, the comparative advantages of recycling methods, such as glycolysis, aminolysis, and hydrolysis, are highlighted, focusing on their efficiency, environmental impact, and potential for industrial application. The scalability of these technologies is also considered, with potential for broad implementation in the recycling industry. Furthermore, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization techniques are examined as a powerful tool for analyzing polyurethanes-based waste, with insights into optimizing sample preparation and improving detection sensitivity for large-scale applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current and emerging trends in polyurethanes degradation and recycling, emphasizing their industrial relevance and future prospects.