Synthesis of Bio-based Polymers from Plant Oils for Better Chemical Recycling

Title : Synthesis of Bio-based Polymers from Plant Oils for Better Chemical Recycling

Abstract:

Design and development of sustainable polymers with various architectures from bio-renewable feedstocks by development of new strategies and methods by precise catalysis (polymerization) techniques have been attractive and important subjects.  Development of functional polymers derived from hydrocarbon-rich molecular biomass (vegetable oils and fatty acids such as linseed, sunflower, soybean, castor, palm, and olive oils), most abundant and low-cost molecular biomass, has thus been recognized as an attractive subject.  In particular, development of advanced polyesters, displaying tunable mechanical properties and biodegradability, from so-called bio-based monomers by precise polymerization techniques attracts considerable attention.  In this lecture, synthesis of long chain aliphatic polyesters, promising semicrystalline materials expected as alternative to linear polyethylene (widely used in our daily life), especially by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization, including our recent results, will be introduced.  These materials can be depolymerized by chemical modification, the approach, conversion of polymer to monomers or fine chemicals called “chemical recycling”, has also been considered as important subject (key technology) to establish green, sustainable circular economy.  We also introduce another approach for synthesis of new bio-based polyolefins by using half-titanocene catalysts.

Audience take-away:

• Approaches for synthesis of bio-based aliphatic polyesters from nonedible plant oil
• Catalysis technology for synthesis of polymers and chemical recycling
• Understanding importance of catalyst design and new methodology

Biography:

Kotohiro Nomura finished his master studies in University of Tokyo, and then joined as a research scientist in Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd in 1988. He received his Ph.D. in 1993 from Osaka University and joined Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral fellow. He once returned Sumitomo and became an associate professor in Nara Institute of Science and Technology in 1998. Since 2010, he has been a full professor in Tokyo Metropolitan University. He has co-authored more than 300 publications, and his recent research focuses on design of molecular catalysts for efficient carbon-carbon bond formation and chemo-specific organic transformations.