Researcher Nikolaos BIKIARIS
Position
Researcher | AUTH | GREECEEntity:
ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI (AUTH)Country:
GreeceTheme: Chemical Recycling of PLA and Its Copolyesters with Poly(Ethylene Azelate) via Microwave-Assisted Alkaline Hydrolysis
| Mr. Nikolaos Bikiaris is a graduate of the Department of Chemistry of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2019), holder of a master’s degree from the Department of Chemistry of the same institution (2022) specialising in “Chemistry and Technology of Polymer and Nanocomposite Materials”. From May 2022, he is a PhD candidate in the field of Pharmaceutical Technology, of the Department of Pharmacy of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. aimed at the synthesis and characterisation of biodegradable and bio-derived materials from poly(lactic acid) for the preparation of -micro and -nanospheres as carriers for controlled drug release systems. His research interests include synthesis and characterisation of bio-derived polyesters, copolymers and blends, polymeric composites and nanocomposites, synthesis and characterisation of bionanocomposite polymeric materials. His research activity has been published in more than 25 papers in international scientific journals, with over 650 references, and h-index 10 (google scholar), and he participated in 30 national and international scientific conferences. He has also participated in numerous national and EU-funded research projects since 2015 as a researcher. |
Abstract
| Polylactic acid (PLA), a bio-base, biodegradable and compostable aliphatic polyester, has garnered increasing attention as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based plastics. However, the end-of-life management of PLA, especially in the context of its increasing use in printed electronic applications, remains a challenge. In this work, we explore a rapid and energy-efficient chemical recycling pathway for PLA and PLA-based copolyesters via microwave-assisted alkaline hydrolysis. By applying microwave irradiation in the presence of aqueous NaOH solutions, we achieved accelerated depolymerisation of PLA and its copolyesters into their monomers, primarily lactic acid and azelaic acid, under mild conditions (≤125 °C, <15 min). Furthermore, the presence of long, aliphatic co-monomers in PLA copolyesters based on poly(ethylene azelate) (PEAz), was found to influence the rate of hydrolysis, promoting chain mobility and facilitating backbone cleavage. The recovered acids were characterised via NMR confirming the efficient breakdown of the polymer chains. This approach offers a promising route toward closed-loop recycling of PLA-based materials, supporting circular economy principles. The process is scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally benign, positioning microwave-assisted hydrolysis as a valuable tool in sustainable polymer/electronic waste valorisation. |