New Product: RiPurpose polyethylene terephthalate prepolymer for upcycled, green polymer synthesis

 

Akina, Inc, in partnership with RiKarbon (https://rikarbon.com/) is providing RiPuroposeTM PET prepolymer. You can learn more and see ordering details here https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ripurpose/index.php

RiPurpose Oligomer is produced by the chemical breakdown of post-consumer waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic collected from the ocean and environment. This sustainable and green co-monomer can be used as a direct replacement for petroleum-derived feedstock to produce high-value renewable and upcycled polymers by polycondensation and transesterification reactions. RiPurpose Olig1000-700 can be directly used as a feedstock during the polycondensation step of PET production, thereby avoiding the esterification step to prepare a prepolymer intermediate. By using this recycled feedstock, customers can claim CO2 emission reduction of up to 60% for their end-use polymers. The material can also be utilized as an initiator for ring-opening polymerization of various monomers, such as caprolactone, which can be used to make PET-co-caprolactone copolymers that can be utilized as compatibilizers in polymer blends. Additionally, polycondensation can be performed with a wide variety of materials to create novel polymeric materials. An example of this is the co-reaction between PET and poly(tetramethylene oxide) which has been reported recently in literature for the creation of versatile multi-blocks segmented poly(ether-ester)s such as poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate)-block-poly(tetramethylene oxide) which has highly controlled melt and mechanical properties. Further modification of the polymer can be achieved by initially reacting it with an excess quantity of ethylene glycol under polycondensation to convert the precursor into a di-alcohol endcap product. This can subsequently be reacted with isothiocyanates to form PET-polyurethanes in which case the PET behaves as a chain extender in the stepwise reaction. Similarly, a reaction with diglycidyl compounds can be used for the preparation of epoxies. Conversely, a reaction with excess terephthalic acid can convert into a diacid form. This can subsequently be reacted with diamines in a polycondensation condition to form polyamides. The potential applications for this versatile precursor are diverse and hold great promise for further development. RiPurpose Patent Pending (US Provisional Patent# 63/312519)