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Isopropenyl esters (iPEs) as building blocks for the synthesis and recycling of renewable polyethers with tunable properties

Project description

Improved degradable plastics

Custom-degradable plastics are designed to break down more easily under specific environmental conditions, such as exposure to light or heat. These plastics are engineered with additives or chemical structures that enable controlled degradation, reducing the environmental impact compared to traditional plastics, which can persist for hundreds of years. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the IMPULSE project aims to synthesise renewable polyethers with tuneable properties, offering versatility in structure and degradation potential. The generated products will exhibit enhanced mechanical, thermal, and optical properties, also offering the opportunity for repurposing of their degradation products. IMPULSE is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of plastics and generate more sustainable materials for greener applications.

Objective

The synthesis of novel monomers that combine a bio-origin, scalability, low cost, and structural modularity merged with the synthesis of custom-degradable plastics is one of the major objectives in sustainable development. Realization of these goals can contribute to a circular rather than a linear economy. Within this context, the IMPULSE project aims to develop novel strategies for the catalytic synthesis of renewable polyethers featuring tunable properties using isopropenyl esters (iPEs) as biobased and inexpensive precursors. The key polymerization strategy that is used entails ring-opening polymerization (ROP) through proper activation of iPE-derived oxides using Host-developed catalysts with known potential. The epoxide monomers are obtained through enzymatic epoxidation to streamline the green efforts of this research program. The main strengths of IMPULSE are the versatility of the starting precursors, the possibility of modulating the polyether structures and their properties before or after their synthesis, and the potential for degradation of the polyethers through controlled depolymerization, thereby creating a circular atom approach by repurposing the degradation products. The creation of a wider range of commercially attractive polyether macromolecules can boost a transition to biobased analogues with a significantly expanded application potential, and an increased tunability of the mechanical, thermal and optical properties while enabling an improved carbon footprint.

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Topic(s)

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

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Coordinator

FUNDACIO PRIVADA INSTITUT CATALA D'INVESTIGACIO QUIMICA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 165 312,96
Address
AVENIDA PAISSOS CATALANS 16
43007 TARRAGONA
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Tarragona
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

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