A Formaldehyde-mediated Upcycling Approach for Converting All Fatty Acids from Waste Cooking Oil into Degradable Polymers
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are abundant resources from both nature and waste streams (i.e., waste cooking oil (WCO)). However, it remains a significant challenge for transformation into difunctional derivatives as useful monomers. Here we report a formaldehyde-mediated strategy to upcycle saturated fatty methyl esters (sat-FAMEs) into 1,n-diester monomers. This two-step process involves (i) formaldehyde-enabled α-methylenation via aldol condensation and (ii) Pd-catalyzed distal alkoxycarbonylation via a chain-walking mechanism. Demonstrated on C16, C18 esters and WCO-derived mixtures, the strategy yields highly pure α-methyl diester monomers, which can be polymerized into high-molecular-weight polyesters that largely mimic low-density polyethylene in mechanical properties. The materials exhibit exceptional extensibility (340-930%) and yield stress (7-10 MPa). This approach enables valorization of fatty acids into fully recyclable high-performance materials.
Source: ChemRxiv
Institutions: University of Chicago, University of South Carolina
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7135058736