• • Achieved 100.0% PC conversion and 95.0% BPA yield at 160 °C under catalyst-free conditions, demonstrating a green and efficient depolymerization route that eliminates the need for costly catalysts and reduces process complexity.
• • Scaled-up experiment with 10 g PC yielded >85.0% BPA recovery via a designed separation process, proving practical applicability for industrial-scale recycling operations.
• • Method is universal, effectively depolymerizing various commercial PC grades and mixed plastics (e.g., ABS-PC) as well as other polyesters (PLA, PGA, PET), expanding its utility beyond PC to address broader plastic waste streams.
• • Mechanistic insights from SEM and GPC reveal a two-stage depolymerization: initial swelling and formation of soluble macromolecules with broad molecular weight distribution, followed by gradual breakdown to BPA, guiding process optimization for higher yields and purity.