Recent advances in sustainable degradation processes of elastomers: a comprehensive review Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • This review focuses on the degradation processes of elastomers, primarily concerning natural and synthetic rubber. The thermal, mechanical, and physical degradation processes are explained in general terms. The chemical (depolymerization by metathesis) and biological (biodegradation) processes are discussed in more detail, and degradation mechanisms are proposed. The future of biotechnology offers promising opportunities to revalorize both natural rubber and synthetic elastomers through the recovery of biodegradation products. Metathesis depolymerization is attractive not only from the perspective of green chemistry but also from the viewpoint of circularity, as it leads to more efficient, user-friendly, and environmentally friendly reactions. This review addresses rubber waste management, the life cycle of elastomers, and recycling. The circular economy and sustainability in elastomers are discussed, and we propose a scoring of the environmental impacts of elastomer degradation processes. Biological treatments yield the best results regarding the impacts generated, with the second-best and third-best options being chemical depolymerization by metathesis and mechanical processes. Pyrolysis is the least recommended option as it requires high process temperatures, long reaction times, and high energy consumption, with increased greenhouse gas emission generation, and involves high economic and environmental costs. These processes can be used individually or in combination to reuse, recycle, or recover elastomer waste for energy and support the 4R framework's goals of reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovery, presenting significant opportunities for sustainable waste management. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.

publication date

  • January 1, 2025