Science2Go | From Biomass to Plastics | Prof. Dr. Helmut Schlaad

Increasing concern about hazards of fossil-based chemicals including polymers motivates search for renewable alternatives. Cellulose is one of the most abundant renewable resources, consequently prompts its exploitation for the production of value-added platform chemicals. Pyrolysis of (waste) cellulose yields for instance levoglucosenone, which is readily transformed into an unsaturated carbohydrate monomer for the synthesis of polyacetals by ring-opening polymerization. These renewable polyacetals exhibit interesting thermal properties and are degradable in acidic environment.