Advantages

- It is possible to chemically decompose sulfonated polymers, which are super engineering plastics that have no stable and efficient decomposition method.

Current Stage and Key Data

- Decomposition of PSU (polysulfone) has been confirmed in the laboratory using this technology.
Partnering Model
We are currently seeking partner companies to apply this technology to research, develop, and commercialize efficient chemical recycling of sulfone polymers.
- Examples of potential partners: chemical and material manufacturers, water treatment companies, automobile and aircraft manufacturers, etc.

Background

Sulfonated polymers are organic compounds that are widely used as super engineering plastics in a wide range of applications, from electronic materials, automobiles, and aircraft to medical care. While they have the advantages of being extremely strong, thermally stable, and hydrolysis-resistant, their high stability means that there is no efficient method for decomposing them, making their disposal a challenge.
We have discovered a method for using sulfonyl groups as functional groups in cross-coupling reactions using nickel catalysts, enabling the use of various substrates. Furthermore, we have succeeded in decomposing sulfone polymers by using sulfonyl-containing substrates.….
Patents and Publications

Patents

pending
- Paper: Ohkura et al., ACS Catalysis (2025) Vol 15/Issue 11

Principal Investigator

Masakazu Nambo (Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Tokai National Higher Education and Research System)
Project ID:BK-04699