Researchers develop method to recycle silicones and recover monomers

A team of chemists in Germany has presented a strategy to disassemble various types of silicone to recover dichlorosilane, a small molecule that can serve as a raw material for manufacturing new silicon compounds. Published in Nature, the study focuses on chemical recycling by breaking silicon-oxygen bonds in siloxane chains, including linear and cyclic structures, commercial oils, and elastomers.

The process utilizes a combination of a reaction-activating compound and chlorinating agents, such as phosgene, to create a highly reactive chemical species that opens the silicone bonds. This approach aims to transform waste back into high-quality building blocks rather than simply downcycling the material.

In a related area of silicon chemistry, research from the University of Zaragoza has explored the functionalization of siliceous nanomaterials using dimethyldichlorosilane. This study focused on surface modification in aqueous media without organic solvents to create environmentally friendly manufacturing processes for synthetic amorphous silica.