From Waste to Coatings: Acidolysis of Polyurethane Elastomers with Itaconic Acid for Polyurethane Coating

Devesh Sane; Neel Godbole; Debarati Maity; Anagha Sabnis

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3720-8

Your Location：

Home >

Browse articles >

From Waste to Coatings: Acidolysis of Polyurethane Elastomers with Itaconic Acid for Polyurethane Coating

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-09-23

- From Waste to Coatings: Acidolysis of Polyurethane Elastomers with Itaconic Acid for Polyurethane Coating
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 10, Pages: 3340-3354(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  Department of Polymer & Surface Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology Nathalal Parekh Marg, Matunga (E), Mumbai-400019, India
- Author bio：
  
  as.sabnis@ictmumbai.edu.in
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3720-8
  CLC：
- Received：23 February 2026，
  
  Accepted：19 April 2026，
  
  Online First：01 July 2026，
  
  Published：05 October 2026
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
Sane, D.; Godbole, N.; Maity, D.; Sabnis, A. From waste to coatings: acidolysis of polyurethane elastomers with itaconic acid for polyurethane coating. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 3340–3354

Devesh Sane, Neel Godbole, Debarati Maity, et al. From Waste to Coatings: Acidolysis of Polyurethane Elastomers with Itaconic Acid for Polyurethane Coating[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(10): 3340-3354.
Sane, D.; Godbole, N.; Maity, D.; Sabnis, A. From waste to coatings: acidolysis of polyurethane elastomers with itaconic acid for polyurethane coating. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 3340–3354 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3720-8.

Devesh Sane, Neel Godbole, Debarati Maity, et al. From Waste to Coatings: Acidolysis of Polyurethane Elastomers with Itaconic Acid for Polyurethane Coating[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(10): 3340-3354. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3720-8.

摘要

Polyurethane elastomer waste was depolymerized using itaconic acid in a glycol-free system to obtain hydroxyl-functional oligomers. The reaction parameters governed the chemical functionalities. The recycled oligomers were directly utilized for coating formulations

demonstrating an efficient

simplified route for polyurethane (PU) waste valorization.

Abstract

This study explored the chemical recycling of polyurethane (PU) elastomers

via

acidolysis using itaconic acid and dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent without the use of glycol. The depolymerization process was optimized by varying the reaction parameters

and the resulting oligomers were analyzed using end-group analysis. PU coatings were formulated using recovered oligomers and isocyanates derived from isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI)

hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)

and toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Analytical techniques including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)

and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were used for characterization. TDI based coatings exhibited superior optical

mechanical

chemical

thermal

and anticorrosive performance over the HDI and IPDIbased coatings. This study successfully showcased a facile method for recycling of PU waste along with PU coating formulations from 100% recycled oligomers

showcasing the use of recycled polyols in high performance applications.

关键词

Keywords

references

[Simón, D.; Borreguero, A. M.; de Lucas, A.; Gutiérrez, C.; Rodríguez, J. F. Sustainable polyurethanes: chemical recycling to get it. Environment, energy and climate change I. Cham: Springer, 2014 , pp. 229−260.

[Sane D, Gadekar A, Jamdar V, Sabnis S. Recycling of polyurethanes. In Polyurethanes: preparation, properties, and applications , Volume 1: Fundamentals. ACS Symposium Series American Chemical Society, 2023, pp. 161–179..

[Szycher M. Szycher’s handbook of polyurethanes, CRC press, 1999 , pp. 13−17.

Deng, Y.; Dewil, R.; Appels, L.; Ansart, R.; Baeyens, J.; Kang, Q. Reviewing the thermo-chemical recycling of waste polyurethane foam. J. Environ. Manag. 2021 , 278 , 111527..

Kiss, G.; Rusu, G.; Peter, F.; Tănase, I.; Bandur, G. Recovery of flexible polyurethane foam waste for efficient reuse in industrial formulations. Polymers 2020 , 12 , 1533.

Paabo, M.; Levin, B. C. A review of the literature on the gaseous products and toxicity generated from the pyrolysis and combustion of rigid polyurethane foams. Fire Mater. 1987 , 11 , 1−29..

Gama, N.; Godinho, B.; Madureira, P.; Marques, G.; Barros-Timmons, A.; Ferreira, A. Polyurethane recycling through acidolysis: current status and prospects for the future. J. Polym. Environ. 2024 , 32 , 4777−4793..

[Datta J, Włoch M. Recycling of polyurethanes. in Polyurethane polymers , Elsevier, 2017 , pp. 323–358..

Shah, H. H.; Amin, M.; Iqbal, A.; Nadeem, I.; Kalin, M.; Soomar, A. M.; Galal, A. M. A review on gasification and pyrolysis of waste plastics. Front. Chem. 2023 , 10 , 960894..

Achilias, D. S. Thermo-chemical recycling of plastics as a sustainable approach to the plastic waste issue. Euro Mediterr. J. Environ. Integr. 2025 , 10 , 2605−2618..

Guchait, A.; Maity, D.; Sabnis, A. S. Recycling of waste polyurethane shoe sole via aminolysis route. J. Mater. Cycles Waste Manag. 2024 , 26 , 860−871..

Nikje, M. M. A.; Garmarudi, A. B.; Idris, A. B. Polyurethane waste reduction and recycling: From bench to pilot scales. Des. Monomers Polym. 2011 , 14 , 395−421.

del Amo, J.; Borreguero, A. M.; Ramos, M. J.; Rodríguez, J. F. Glycolysis of polyurethanes composites containing nanosilica. Polymers 2021 , 13 , 1418..

Zahedifar, P.; Pazdur, L.; Vande Velde, C. M. L.; Billen, P. Multistage chemical recycling of polyurethanes and dicarbamates: A glycolysis–hydrolysis demonstration. Sustainability 2021 , 13 , 3583.

Brzeska, J.; Heimowska, A.; Sikorska, W.; Jasińska-Walc , L.; Kowalczuk, M.; Rutkowska, M. Chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis of polyurethane/polylactide blends. Int. J. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 2015 , 795985..

Troev, K.; Tsekova, A.; Tsevi, R. Chemical degradation of polyurethanes: degradation of flexible polyester polyurethane foam by phosphonic acid dialkyl esters. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2000 , 78 , 2565−2573.

Soltysinski, M.; Piszczek, K.; Romecki, D.; Narozniak, S.; Tomaszewska, J.; Skorczewska, K. Conversion of polyurethane technological foam waste and post-consumer polyurethane mattresses into polyols–industrial applications. Polimery 2018 , 63 , 234−238..

Gadhave, R. V.; Srivastava, S.; Mahanwar, P. A.; Gadekar, P. T. Recycling and disposal methods for polyurethane wastes: a review. Open J. Polym. Chem. 2019 , 9 , 39−51..

Gama, N.; Godinho, B.; Marques, G.; Silva, R.; Barros-Timmons, A.; Ferreira, A. Recycling of polyurethane by acidolysis: The effect of reaction conditions on the properties of the recovered polyol. Polymer 2021 , 219 , 123561..

Godinho, B.; Gama, N.; Barros-Timmons, A.; Ferreira, A. Recycling of polyurethane wastes using different carboxylic acids via acidolysis to produce wood adhesives. J. Polym. Sci. 2021 , 59 , 697−705..

Gama, N.; Godinho, B.; Marques, G.; Silva, R.; Barros-Timmons, A.; Ferreira, A. Recycling of polyurethane scraps via acidolysis. Chem. Eng. J. 2020 , 395 , 125102..

Grdadolnik, M.; Drinčić, A.; Oreški, A.; Onder, O. C.; Utroša, P.; Pahovnik, D.; Žagar, E. Insight into chemical recycling of flexible polyurethane foams by acidolysis. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2022 , 10 , 1323−1332..

Omrani, I.; Mohammadi Berenjegani, R. Chemical recycling of flexible polyurethane foam scraps using bio-based acidolysis agents. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2024 , 6 , 10698−10705..

O’Dea, R. M.; Nandi, M.; Kroll, G.; Arnold, J. R.; Korley, L. T. J.; Epps, T. H. III. Toward circular recycling of polyurethanes: Depolymerization and recovery of isocyanates. JACS Au 2024 , 4 , 1471−1479..

Liu, B.; Westman, Z.; Richardson, K.; Lim, D.; Stottlemyer, A. L.; Gillis, P.; Letko, C. S.; Hooshyar, N.; Vlcek, V.; Christopher, P.; Abu-Omar, M. M. Vapor-phase dicarboxylic acids and anhydrides drive depolymerization of polyurethanes. ACS Macro Lett. 2024 , 13 , 435−439..

Liu, B.; Westman, Z.; Richardson, K.; Lim, D.; Stottlemyer, A. L.; Farmer, T.; Gillis, P.; Hooshyar, N.; Vlcek, V.; Christopher, P.; Abu-Omar, M. M. Polyurethane foam chemical recycling: Fast acidolysis with maleic acid and full recovery of polyol. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2024 , 12 , 4435−4443..

Hudson, R. F. A simple interpretation of nucleophilic reactivity. Chimia 1962 , 16 , 173..

Okabe, M.; Lies, D.; Kanamasa, S.; Park, E. Y. Biotechnological production of itaconic acid and its biosynthesis in Aspergillus terreus. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2009 , 84 , 597−606..

Godinho, B.; Gama, N.; Barros-Timmons, A.; Ferreira, A. Recycling of different types of polyurethane foam wastes via acidolysis to produce polyurethane coatings. Sustain. Mater. Technolog. 2021 , 29 , e00330..

Donadini, R.; Roso, M.; Covassin, A.; Penzo, D.; Del Bianco, G.; Romagnano, S.; Modesti, M. Closing the loop of polyurethane adhesives: Acidolysis process optimization. Int. J. Adhes. Adhes. 2024 , 135 , 103843..

[He, H.; Su, H.; Yu, H.; Du, K.; Yang, F.; Zhu, Y.; Ma, M.; Shi, Y.; Zhang, X.; Chen, S.; Wang, X. Chemical recycling of waste polyurethane foams: Efficient acidolysis under the catalysis of zinc acetate. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng . 2023 , 11 , 5515−5523..

Westman, Z.; Liu, B.; Richardson, K.; Davis, M.; Lim, D.; Stottlemyer, A. L.; Letko, C. S.; Hooshyar, N.; Vlcek, V.; Christopher, P.; Abu-Omar, M. M. Influence of carboxylic acid structure on the kinetics of polyurethane foam acidolysis to recycled polyol. JACS Au 2024 , 4 , 3194−3204..

Agnoletto, A.; Godinho, B.; Vieira, F.; Ferreira, A.; Lorenzetti, A.; Barros-Timmons, A.; Gama, N. Recycling of rigid polyurethane foams via acidolysis. Prog. Rubber Plast. Recycl. Technol. 2026 , 42 , 84−97..

Aksu, Y.; Haykiri-Acma, H.; Yaman, S. Recycleof flexible polyurethane foam by acidolysis and reuse of recovered polyol. J. Polym. Environ. 2025 , 33 , 1147−1158..

Zhang, X.; Pu, X.; Xia, L.; Peng, W.; Ji, Y.; Xu, J.; Wu, J.; Jiang, L.; Zhao, Q.; Fang, Z.; Xie, T. Solvent- and catalyst-free bio-conversion of waste polyurethane foams into high-performance 3D printing resin. Natl. Sci. Rev. 2025 , 12 , nwaf501..

Chattopadhyay, D. K.; Webster, D. C. Thermal stability and flame retardancy of polyurethanes. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2009 , 34 , 1068−1133..

Rogulska, M. The influence of diisocyanate structure on thermal stability of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers based on diphenylmethane-derivative chain extender with sulfur atoms. Materials 2023 , 16 , 2618..

Hau, N. N.; Huong, D. Q. Effect of aromatic rings on mild steel corrosion inhibition ability of nitrogen heteroatom-containing compounds: Experimental and theoretical investigation. J. Mol. Struct. 2023 , 1277 , 134884.

Views

Downloads

CSCD

Alert me when the article has been cited

Submit

Tools

Publicity Resources

Three-in-One Coupled Shape Memory, Self-healing, and Photochromic System in Dynamic Covalent Polyurethane Network for Sequential 4D Encryption

Investigation of Bio-based Acrylate Reactive Diluents for UV-curable Electronic Packaging Polyurethane Adhesives

Two-way Shape Memory Effect of Polycaprolactone-based Polyurethane via Synergistic Role of Hydrogen Bonding and Crystallization Tuned by Malic Acid

Generation and Modulation of Apparent All-angle Dependent Nonreciprocal Chiroptical Response in Chiral Polyurethane Film

Alternating Poly(ether-alt-ester)s with High Glass Transition Temperature Enabled by Rotationally Constrained Biaryl Units

Related Author

Yi-Xin Ji

Ahmed Olalekan Omoniyi

Yang Zhou

Ying-Chao Zhang

Jian-Fu Zhang

Yun-Tao Li

Shun-Peng Sun

Ya-Meng Jia

Related Institution

Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Centre of Optical Materials and Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology

Zhongshan Institute of Changchun University of Science and Technology

School of Opto-electronic Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology

Shandong Province Engineering Research Center for Future Industries of Key Materials in Optoelectronics, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Shouguang

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan

⁰