Recyclable alternatives to polyethylene plastics — that do not sacrifice its valuable properties — are highly desirable. Now, an earth-abundant manganese catalyst has transformed plant-based alcohols into polyethylene mimics that combine versatile performances with complete recyclability.
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Fig. 1: Engineering breakdown points in polyethylene mimics.
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Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Georgina L. Gregory
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Georgina L. Gregory
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Correspondence to Georgina L. Gregory.
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Gregory, G.L. Recyclable plastics from a manganese catalyst. Nat. Chem. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01785-0
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Published:31 March 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01785-0
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