{"id":{"repo_id":"uiuc","oai_identifier":"oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132720"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uiuc/oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132720","repository":{"repo_id":"uiuc","name":"University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign","base_url":"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh"},"display":{"title":"Selective deconstruction of polyethylene to propylene via isomerization/metathesis and 1-hexene isomerization studies","abstract":"Polyethylene (PE), the world’s most produced single-use plastic, poses a significant environmental challenge due to its chemical inertness and resistance to degradation. Traditional recycling approaches—mechanical recycling and incineration—fail to offer selective, and circular solutions for effective PE waste management. This thesis explores an alternative strategy rooted in chemical upcycling, where PE is selectively converted into propylene, a high-value monomer, via a tandem catalytic process combining dehydrogenation, isomerization and metathesis. Chapter 1 outlines the limitations of current recycling strategies and introduces chemical recycling as a promising route toward closed-loop, polymer-to-polymer reuse. Chapter 2 highlights a tandem isomerization-metathesis (ISOMET) process that enables highly selective PE deconstruction to propylene in the presence of ethylene with both homogeneous and heterogenous catalysts in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Chapter 3 focuses on the development of a kinetic understanding of 1-hexene isomerization, serving as a model PE system to capture the thermodynamic behavior of internal olefin redistribution. Finally, Chapter 4 reflects on the author’s experience as a Research Group Leader in the Summer Predoctoral Institute (SPI), highlighting the program’s role in fostering community and early graduate student success.","abstract_html":"Polyethylene (PE), the world’s most produced single-use plastic, poses a significant environmental challenge due to its chemical inertness and resistance to degradation. Traditional recycling approaches—mechanical recycling and incineration—fail to offer selective, and circular solutions for effective PE waste management. This thesis explores an alternative strategy rooted in chemical upcycling, where PE is selectively converted into propylene, a high-value monomer, via a tandem catalytic process combining dehydrogenation, isomerization and metathesis. Chapter 1 outlines the limitations of current recycling strategies and introduces chemical recycling as a promising route toward closed-loop, polymer-to-polymer reuse. Chapter 2 highlights a tandem isomerization-metathesis (ISOMET) process that enables highly selective PE deconstruction to propylene in the presence of ethylene with both homogeneous and heterogenous catalysts in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Chapter 3 focuses on the development of a kinetic understanding of 1-hexene isomerization, serving as a model PE system to capture the thermodynamic behavior of internal olefin redistribution. Finally, Chapter 4 reflects on the author’s experience as a Research Group Leader in the Summer Predoctoral Institute (SPI), highlighting the program’s role in fostering community and early graduate student success.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["DaSilva, Vanessa"],"institution":"University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign","degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Chemical Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Guironnet, Damien","Kenis, Paul J. 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Traditional recycling approaches—mechanical recycling and incineration—fail to offer selective, and circular solutions for effective PE waste management. This thesis explores an alternative strategy rooted in chemical upcycling, where PE is selectively converted into propylene, a high-value monomer, via a tandem catalytic process combining dehydrogenation, isomerization and metathesis. Chapter 1 outlines the limitations of current recycling strategies and introduces chemical recycling as a promising route toward closed-loop, polymer-to-polymer reuse. Chapter 2 highlights a tandem isomerization-metathesis (ISOMET) process that enables highly selective PE deconstruction to propylene in the presence of ethylene with both homogeneous and heterogenous catalysts in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Chapter 3 focuses on the development of a kinetic understanding of 1-hexene isomerization, serving as a model PE system to capture the thermodynamic behavior of internal olefin redistribution. Finally, Chapter 4 reflects on the author’s experience as a Research Group Leader in the Summer Predoctoral Institute (SPI), highlighting the program’s role in fostering community and early graduate student success.","Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2027-05-01","The student, Vanessa DaSilva, accepted the attached license on 2025-04-25 at 14:17.","The student, Vanessa DaSilva, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2025-04-25 at 14:36.","This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2025-04-28 at 10:29.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #21988 on 2026-02-19 at 20:07:49"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Selective deconstruction of polyethylene to propylene via isomerization/metathesis and 1-hexene isomerization studies"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Guironnet, Damien","Kenis, Paul J. A.","Kuenstler, Alexa","Olshansky, Lisa"],"dc:creator":["DaSilva, Vanessa"],"dc:date":["2025-05","2025-04-28"],"dc:description":["Polyethylene (PE), the world’s most produced single-use plastic, poses a significant environmental challenge due to its chemical inertness and resistance to degradation. Traditional recycling approaches—mechanical recycling and incineration—fail to offer selective, and circular solutions for effective PE waste management. This thesis explores an alternative strategy rooted in chemical upcycling, where PE is selectively converted into propylene, a high-value monomer, via a tandem catalytic process combining dehydrogenation, isomerization and metathesis. Chapter 1 outlines the limitations of current recycling strategies and introduces chemical recycling as a promising route toward closed-loop, polymer-to-polymer reuse. Chapter 2 highlights a tandem isomerization-metathesis (ISOMET) process that enables highly selective PE deconstruction to propylene in the presence of ethylene with both homogeneous and heterogenous catalysts in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Chapter 3 focuses on the development of a kinetic understanding of 1-hexene isomerization, serving as a model PE system to capture the thermodynamic behavior of internal olefin redistribution. Finally, Chapter 4 reflects on the author’s experience as a Research Group Leader in the Summer Predoctoral Institute (SPI), highlighting the program’s role in fostering community and early graduate student success.","Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2027-05-01","The student, Vanessa DaSilva, accepted the attached license on 2025-04-25 at 14:17.","The student, Vanessa DaSilva, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2025-04-25 at 14:36.","This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2025-04-28 at 10:29.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #21988 on 2026-02-19 at 20:07:49"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132720"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2025 Vanessa DaSilva"],"dc:subject":["Polyethylene","Deconstruction","Chemical Recycling","ISOMET","Ethenolysis","Propylene Selectivity","Catalysis","Polymer to Polymer Recycling Strategy"],"dc:title":["Selective deconstruction of polyethylene to propylene via isomerization/metathesis and 1-hexene isomerization studies"],"dc:type":["text","Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Chemical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:25:07Z"}