The disposal of post-consumer polyurethane foam has long been a critical environmental challenge for the mattress and furniture industries. With hundreds of thousands of tons discarded annually, the need for a viable, scalable recycling solution is more urgent than ever.

Read the full story here: https://nestorsprings.com/a-leap-forward-in-circularity-how-new-powder-technology-is-solving-the-mattress-foam-waste-problem/

#Circularity #Sustainability #Innovation #Recycling #Polyurethane #FoamRecycling #CircularEconomy #Manufacturing #WasteManagement #Technology

I just found this photo of one of the most disgusting preparations of my entire training… PU foam!

First, a highly branched polyester was synthesized from adipic acid, oleic acid, and phthalic anhydride with 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)propane using PTSA as an acid catalyst. The polycondensation ran for many hours at ~190 °C under nitrogen and vacuum while water was continuously removed as a by-product.

During the reaction, the acid number (determined by titration, mg KOH/g) was monitored until it dropped below 10, with a target around 5. The resulting viscous polyester polyol was then reacted with tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate to produce rigid polyurethane foam.

Chemically interesting.
Visually and olfactorily… slightly traumatic. 🧪😵

#chemistry #organicchemistry #polymerchemistry #polyurethane #polymer #lablife #chemistrylab #chemstudent #polyester #synthesis
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#Neuralnetwork finds an #enzyme that can break down #polyurethane
A completely new enzyme that researchers developed to break down polyurethane, the #polymer commonly used to make #foam cushioning, among other things. The new enzyme is compatible with an industrial-style recycling process that breaks the polymer down into its basic building blocks, which can be used to form fresh polyurethane.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/10/polyurethane-is-the-latest-polymer-broken-down-by-designer-enzymes/
Neural network finds an enzyme that can break down polyurethane

Given a dozen hours, the enzyme can turn a foam pad into reusable chemicals.

Ars Technica