Depolymerization of plastics using inexpensive metal catalysts
Duration: 4 weeks to 12 months depending on the type of internship (Duration can be extended to suit the interest of potential candidates)
Detalhes
BACKGROUND
It is well known that plastics play an important role in our lives. These materials are used in agricultural industry, automotive, medicine, among other applications. However, plastic production leads to serious environmental problems and for this reason, it is essential to develop new technologies that are able to carry out recycling effectively. The strategy to be developed in the present proposal is the selective depolymerization of waste polymers, breaking down the polymers into valuable monomers or building blocks that could be then reused.
OBJECTIVES
This project will allow students to receive laboratory training in the synthesis of organometallic compounds (working under inert atmosphere conditions-Schlenk-line methodology; microwave equipment), organic synthesis, as well as in the characterization of chemical compounds (NMR, IR, MS, etc.).The aim of this project is to develop Fe, Mn and Ni-based catalytic systems for the depolymerization of polyesters through reduction reactions (hydrosilylation, hydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation). To meet this goal, we propose the synthesis of robust organometallic complexes containing tethered N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHCs). These metal complexes will be applied as catalysts for the depolymerization of polyesters.
