Synthesis of dianols or BPA through catalytic hydrolyisis/glycolysis of waste polycarbonates using a microwave heating

Dianols (etherified derivatives of bis-phenol-A) and bis-phenol-A (BPA) itself were efficiently obtained from waste polycarbonate (PC) via a fast catalytic hydrolysis/glycolysis process using microwave heating. A complete conversion of waste PC was achieved using a microwave power of 3 kW in a very short time (10 min). A mixture of BPA, mono- and dianols were obtained working with a basic catalyst and ethylene glycol as solvent. This mixture was selectively converted into dianol 220 (2,2′-((propane-2,2-diylbis(4,1-phenylene))bis(oxy))bis (ethan-1-ol)) using diethyl carbonate. Furthermore several dianols were obtained through a more eco-friendly process through hydrolysis in the appropiate diol as solvent and Na2CO3 as catalyst followed by a one-pot etherification with urea, zinc oxide and a microwave heating for 15 min. On the contrary using THF/H2O as solvent and KOH as catalyst, PC was hydrolysed to BPA with high selectivity (80.6, wt%).