Microwave-Assisted Reaction in Green Solvents Recycles PHB to Functional Chemicals

An efficient microwave-assisted process for chemical recycling of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in green solvents was demonstrated. Previously, PHB has been thermally recycled to crotonic acid and unsaturated oligomers. Our aim was to utilize green solvents (water, methanol, and ethanol) under alkaline conditions to achieve fast hydrolysis and monomeric or oligomeric degradation products with carboxyl and hydroxyl or methoxy or ethoxy end groups. Preliminary screening confirmed that the most efficient degradation process was obtained in alkaline methanol. In addition, sample amount, sodium hydroxide concentration, and degradation time all influenced the degradation process and final degree of degradation. Comparison with pure thermal degradation clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the microwave-assisted process as the time and temperature needed for complete degradation was significantly reduced. Several characterization techniques were utilized for mapping the degradation processes and resulting degradation products. After optimization of the process, complete degradation of PHB to monomeric degradation products (3-hydroxybutanoic acid, 3-methoxybutanoic acid, and crotonic acid) was reached after only 20 min of microwave heating at 110 °C. Functional chemicals for synthesis or modification of biopolymers are thus obtainable from microwave-assisted degradation of PHB in green solvents. This offers new possibilities for retaining the material value of PHB via chemical recycling.