Selective Degradation of Polyurethanes in Mixed Plastic Wastes via Ir-Catalyzed Hydrogenolysis.

Authors

Yuto Yamada, Takanori Iwasaki, Shinji Tanaka, Kyoko Nozaki

Published in

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English). Pages e4288189. Jul 08, 2026. Epub Jul 08, 2026.

Abstract

Chemical recycling of plastic waste has been widely undertaken to address a circular carbon economy. However, the presence of different polymers or composites in plastic waste complicates its chemical degradation into reusable chemical feedstocks. Here, we report the selective degradation of polyurethanes in mixed plastics with polyesters and polyamides using H₂ as a reactant, contrarily to the implicitly low reactivity of urethanes against esters and amides. This chemoselectivity enables selective chemical recycling of urethanes in mixed textiles and end-of-life car seats, while thermoplastic polyesters and polyamides can be separated for mechanical recycling. This innovative recycling approach facilitates composite separation and resource circulation in mixed plastic waste, addressing a pressing global concern.

PMID:
42417929
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 08 Jul 2026.

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