Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-20-2026
Abstract
Catalytic plastic upcycling protocols are essential for resolving the environmental and economic challenges associated with massive plastic production and disposal, as they convert complex waste streams into value-added chemicals. We report an efficient acid-catalyzed upcycling strategy for transforming poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic waste. This innovative process directly yielding dioxolanones (DOXs) can be extended to use POM with various naturally abundant α-hydroxy acids. This work significantly expands the high-value chemical portfolio derivable from common plastic wastes. Incorporation of the synthesized DOXs into the poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) backbone results in materials with enhanced thermal stability and superior biodegradability. Critically, this PLLA derivative outperforms both pristine PLLA and cellulose in degradation, marking the first reported instance of PLLA achieving such a result. This research moves beyond simple waste conversion, establishing a robust sustainable utilization strategy that transforms plastic upcycling products into functional monomers for next-generation, superior biodegradable polymers.
Recommended Citation
Lee, Mi‐hyun, Joohyun Park, Hyeongyeong Lee, Woo Yeon Cho, Semin Son, Pyung Cheon Lee, In‐Hwan Lee, and Hye‐Young Jang. "Unveiling Value in Plastic Waste: Synthesis of 1, 3‐Dioxolan‐4‐ones from Polylactic Acid and Polyoxymethylene to Enhance Plastic Biodegradation." Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 368, no. 7 (2026): e70354. https://doi.org/10.1002/adsc.70354
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Publication Title
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis
DOI
10.1002/adsc.70354
Comments
© 2026 The Author(s). Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.