Benign Metal Initiators for the Production of Biopolymers and their subsequent depolymerisation

This project will combine expertise in the Jones group in the preparation of Lewis acidic metal complexes and exploit
this in the production of new biopolymers. Recently several initiator have been shown to be significantly more active
than other systems and are able to work at industrially relevant conditions. The project will be split into several
strands:
1. Ligand modification and varying metal centre (Chemistry Bath/Cardiff). This will involve the expansion of the family
of ligands (varying sterics, electronics) and complexing these to a range of metal centres.
2. Homo and co-polymerisation the complexes will be screened for the homo-polymerisation of cyclic esters (eg
lactide, caprolactone, butryolactone) and co-polymerisation of epoxide/CO2 and epoxide/anhydrides under
industrially relevant conditions (high temperature and solvent free). This is extremely challenging, however, we have
developed catalysts that show promise. The most promising homo-polymerisation catalysts will be taken forward for
co-polymerisations. This, presumably, will lead to either block copolymers or alternating copolymers depending on
the reactivity ratios. The precise conditions required for effecting highly alternating copolymers is an area that is
poorly understood, and will therefore be an interesting avenue to explore.
3. In line with the "cyclic economy concept" we will investigate catalytic depolymerisation of commercially relevant
biopolymers. Initially we will focus our investigation on polyesters {polylactide -PLA}. Disposal of plastics into landfill
causes loss of materials' value and also contributes to environmental problems. It is imperative that technology is
developed that can recycle polymers to recover the monomer (or useful chemical starting materials). This potentially
can be achieved by catalytic depolymerisation

Catalysis is crucially important to the UK economy, with products and services reliant on catalytic processes amounting to 21% of GDP and 15% of all exports. The UK is scientifically strong and internationally recognised in the field, but the science base is fragmented and becoming increasingly specialised. The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Catalysis will overcome these problems by acting as beacon for excellent postgraduate training in Catalysis and Reaction Engineering with a programme that will develop an advanced knowledge base of traditional and emerging catalysis disciplines, understanding of industry and global contexts, and research and professional skills tailored to the needs of the catalysis researcher.

Although the chemical sector is an immensely successful and important part of the overall UK economy, this sector is not the only end-user of catalysis. Through its training and its research portfolio the Centre will, therefore, impact on a broad range of technologies, processes and markets. It will:
(a) provide UK industry with the underpinning science and the personnel from which to develop and commercially leverage innovative future technologies for the global marketplace;
(b) allow the UK to maintain its position as a world leader in the high-technology area of catalysis and reactor engineering;
(c) consolidate and establish the UK as the centre for catalysis expertise.

Likewise, society will benefit from the human and intellectual resource that the Centre will supply. The skills and technologies that will be developed within the Centre will be highly applicable to the fields of sustainable manufacture, efficient and clean energy generation, and the protection of the environment through the clean-up of air and water - allowing some of the biggest societal challenges to be addressed.