Larger-ring cyclic carbonates
Número del projecte / Project number
Doctoral Networ D-Carbonize: 101073223
Nom i cognoms / Name and surname
Enrico Lanaro
Afiliació / Affiliation
Institut Català d’Investigació Química
Breu explicació del projecte / Brief explanation of your project
Most plastics today are not recycled, which leads to pollution and waste. To help solve this problem, the project focuses on making a special plastic from a natural substance called menthol, which is found in plants like mint and gives it its characteristic scent.
This Project is part of the D-Carbonize network, funded by the European Union, with the general objective of valorizing biocarbon by obtaining recyclable plastics. The main method to obtain the mint-based plastic uses a chemical catalytic reaction where menthol and carbon dioxide (CO2) are combined.
After creating the plastic, we also study how to break it down back into its original components and then rebuild it again. This process is important because it could allow the plastic to be reused over and over, which would reduce waste and make the plastic more sustainable.
In the long run, the goal of this project is to develop new types of eco-friendly plastics that can be used in a circular way, meaning they can be recycled and reused repeatedly without harming the environment. The research also involves understanding exactly how the plastic is made and broken down, to improve the process in the future.
Enllaç a la pàgina web del projecte / Link to your project website
Repte en que s’emmarca aquest projecte / Challenge within the framework of this project
–
