The transition from a linear to a circular economy depends on the widespread implementation of chemically recyclable plastics. Achieving this goal requires a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving polymer decomposition and the ability to influence them. However, tracking polymer deconstruction is challenging due to the complexity of disentangling simultaneous chain swelling, diffusion, and time-dependent reaction kinetics. To address these challenges, it is essential to monitor these processes in situ with high spatiotemporal specificity while rigorously accounting for their inherent nonlinearity.
Dr. Sophia Fricke, a PMRC post-doctoral fellow from the Reimer group, led the development of a new fractal analysis method for operando magnetic resonance (MR) imaging data, offering new insights into the nonlinear, time-dependent kinetics of plastic deconstruction. This approach illuminates how polymer network architecture and acidic reaction media affect depolymerization, yielding parameters that not only align with but also predict decomposition behavior at bulk scales. These streamlined methods for investigating polymer hydrolysis kinetics suggest a scalable strategy for advancing chemical recycling on an industrial level.
