Sustainable route for circularity of renewable polyesters

During the years it has been shown that the problem of the environmental impact due to the dispersion in the environment of organic materials recalcitrant to biodegradation (e.g. plastics, lubricants) can only be partially solved by collection and recycling strategies.

In this respect, studies are needed that provide effective solutions, embracing the entire life cycle of the material, starting from its design, up to its ""end of life"".

Thus, The RenEcoPol project aim is to develop alternative routes for recyclable polyester synthesis based on biobased building blocks using green processes such as biocatalysis.

RenEcoPol first develops a strategy for the selection of monomers from renewable sources completed by a selection of the green catalysts for synthesis of polyesters possible candidates for different applications ranging from packaging to high performance materials.

The new biobased polyesters will be characterized in detail by several analytical techniques for structure confirmation and assessment of the physico-chemical properties.

In the third step the biodegradability in different natural and synthetic conditions of the synthesized materials will be evaluated and in the last step the development of a strategy for the recoverment of the components will be performed. Following all the steps the compliance to bioeconomy and circular economy criteria will be demonstarted.

The RenEcoPol project will familiarize the researcher with bioinformatics, marine biotechnology and will promote her development as independent researcher and facilitate the acquisition of a stable research position in Europe.