The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Polycarbonate (PC) waste poses a significant environmental challenge due to its stability and resistance to hydrolysis under mild conditions. In this study, we developed an aqueous-phase catalytic system capable of decomposing PC via an end-scission pathway. The approach enables efficient depolymerization at ambient temperature, leading to high recovery of bisphenol A (BPA) with excellent selectivity. Structural analyses of the polymer fragments confirmed end-group scission as the dominant degradation pathway, while catalyst reuse tests demonstrated good stability over multiple cycles. This study provides a practical and sustainable method for polycarbonate recycling, highlighting the potential of aqueous-phase catalytic strategies for efficient polymer depolymerization.