The release of Bisphenol A (BPA) from polycarbonate baby bottles into food and food simulants is reviewed in the perspective of the current intensive discussions on the risks of this substance. Potential factors that have been reported to influence the release of BPA are reviewed. Unlike most polymers polycarbonate is hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions by scale formation, residual alkaline detergents and boiled water. Data suggest that brushing of the bottle did not raise the release of BPA. Claims that used bottles release more BPA than new bottles and that mineral composition of the aqueous food simulant affect release could not be substantiated. There are indications that aminolysis of polycarbonate by milk and ethanolysis of polycarbonate by 50% ethanol might take place under relevant test conditions. The relatively few migration data following the test conditions of European food contact material legislation, comply with the specific migration limit. Two test conditions were identified that reflect...

/pdf/release-of-bisphenol-a-from-polycarbonate-a-review-4t886won2o.pdf

Release of Bisphenol A from Polycarbonate—A Review

Polymers (plastics) have transformed our lives by providing access to inexpensive and versatile materials with a variety of useful properties. While polymers have improved our lives in many ways, their longevity has created some unintended consequences. The extreme stability and durability of most commercial polymers, combined with the lack of equivalent degradable alternatives and ineffective collection and recycling policies, have led to an accumulation of polymers in landfills and oceans. This problem is reaching a critical threat to the environment, creating a demand for immediate action. Chemical recycling and upcycling involve the conversion of polymer materials into their original monomers, fuels or chemical precursors for value-added products. These approaches are the most promising for value-recovery of post-consumer polymer products; however, they are often cost-prohibitive in comparison to current recycling and disposal methods. Catalysts can be used to accelerate and improve product selectivity for chemical recycling and upcycling of polymers. This review aims to not only highlight and describe the tremendous efforts towards the development of improved catalysts for well-known chemical recycling processes, but also identify new promising methods for catalytic recycling or upcycling of the most abundant commercial polymers.

Catalytic methods for chemical recycling or upcycling of commercial polymers

Polycarbonate, poly(bisphenol A carbonate), PC, is an important engineering polymer with a variety of optical and technical applications, whose demand is increasing year by year. Its consumption in 2008 was estimated to have reached 3.3 Mt and to increase by a 7 % per year. The three different routes for PC recycling are: direct recycle (mechanical recycling or blending with other materials), treatment via chemical methods and thermochemical methods (pyrolysis). The aim of the current review paper is to visit all the available methods for PC recycling and their mechanisms and record their potential and weaknesses. Apart from methods such as pyrolysis and degradation via chemical routes, novel methods, such as decomposition in the presence of enzymes, are been reported. Finally, the main degradation methods of PC blends and WEEEs applications are also been presented.

Recent Advances in Polycarbonate Recycling: A Review of Degradation Methods and Their Mechanisms

Methanolysis of polycarbonate catalysed by ionic liquid [Bmim][Ac].

https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/131596/1/IBB-Daassi_2016.pdf

S. Tanaka

Papers

Chemical conversion of poly(carbonate) to bis(hydroxyethyl) ether of bisphenol A. An approach to the chemical recycling of plastic wastes as monomers