Development of a HPLC protocol to characterize flexible PU foams in support of advanced recycling
We present a novel High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) protocol to characterize flexible polyurethane (PU) foams, aiming to enhance chemical recycling processes. The developed protocol consists of depolymerizing PU foam and analyzing the resultant mixture using HPLC. The developed HPLC met...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Polymer Testing |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825001436 |
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| author | Jonas Cassimon Marthe Nees Matthew Porters Cristina Moyaert Muhammad Adeel Valentino Fantozzi Lukasz Pazdur Christophe M.L. Vande Velde Philippe Nimmegeers Pieter Billen |
| author_facet | Jonas Cassimon Marthe Nees Matthew Porters Cristina Moyaert Muhammad Adeel Valentino Fantozzi Lukasz Pazdur Christophe M.L. Vande Velde Philippe Nimmegeers Pieter Billen |
| author_sort | Jonas Cassimon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present a novel High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) protocol to characterize flexible polyurethane (PU) foams, aiming to enhance chemical recycling processes. The developed protocol consists of depolymerizing PU foam and analyzing the resultant mixture using HPLC. The developed HPLC method successfully separates the isocyanate derivatives, allowing for accurate quantification of both toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) content. Additionally, the method identifies the formation of aromatic amines during depolymerization, serving as an indicator for urea bonds in the foam. Hydrolysis is used to estimate the isocyanate content of polymeric MDI foams, but this does not provide information on the urea content. Although polyol quantification was not yet achieved, the protocol determines the types, polarity, molecular weight, and distribution of polyols post-depolymerization using Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). This work provides a robust analytical framework for assessing PU foam waste streams, facilitating improved recycling and sustainability in PU applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ebb4e8f789d440ae9af7eec926f51204 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1873-2348 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymer Testing |
| spelling | doaj-art-ebb4e8f789d440ae9af7eec926f512042025-08-20T02:15:37ZengElsevierPolymer Testing1873-23482025-06-0114710882910.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108829Development of a HPLC protocol to characterize flexible PU foams in support of advanced recyclingJonas Cassimon0Marthe Nees1Matthew Porters2Cristina Moyaert3Muhammad Adeel4Valentino Fantozzi5Lukasz Pazdur6Christophe M.L. Vande Velde7Philippe Nimmegeers8Pieter Billen9Intelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumIntelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumIntelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Triple Helix, Olieweg 95, 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumIntelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumIntelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; Triple Helix, Olieweg 95, 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumIntelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Bologna, Via Zamboni, 33, 40126, Bologna BO, Italy; Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Faculteit Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 3, 9747 AG, Groningen, the NetherlandsIntelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumIntelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumDepartment of Engineering Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium; Flanders Make@UAntwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlight Centre of Excellence, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium; Corresponding author. Department of Engineering Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.Intelligence in Processes, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS), Faculty of Applied Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, BelgiumWe present a novel High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) protocol to characterize flexible polyurethane (PU) foams, aiming to enhance chemical recycling processes. The developed protocol consists of depolymerizing PU foam and analyzing the resultant mixture using HPLC. The developed HPLC method successfully separates the isocyanate derivatives, allowing for accurate quantification of both toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) content. Additionally, the method identifies the formation of aromatic amines during depolymerization, serving as an indicator for urea bonds in the foam. Hydrolysis is used to estimate the isocyanate content of polymeric MDI foams, but this does not provide information on the urea content. Although polyol quantification was not yet achieved, the protocol determines the types, polarity, molecular weight, and distribution of polyols post-depolymerization using Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). This work provides a robust analytical framework for assessing PU foam waste streams, facilitating improved recycling and sustainability in PU applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825001436PolyurethanesHPLCChemical recyclingCharacterization |
| spellingShingle | Jonas Cassimon Marthe Nees Matthew Porters Cristina Moyaert Muhammad Adeel Valentino Fantozzi Lukasz Pazdur Christophe M.L. Vande Velde Philippe Nimmegeers Pieter Billen Development of a HPLC protocol to characterize flexible PU foams in support of advanced recycling Polymer Testing Polyurethanes HPLC Chemical recycling Characterization |
| title | Development of a HPLC protocol to characterize flexible PU foams in support of advanced recycling |
| title_full | Development of a HPLC protocol to characterize flexible PU foams in support of advanced recycling |
| title_fullStr | Development of a HPLC protocol to characterize flexible PU foams in support of advanced recycling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a HPLC protocol to characterize flexible PU foams in support of advanced recycling |
| title_short | Development of a HPLC protocol to characterize flexible PU foams in support of advanced recycling |
| title_sort | development of a hplc protocol to characterize flexible pu foams in support of advanced recycling |
| topic | Polyurethanes HPLC Chemical recycling Characterization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825001436 |
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