Project Grant 2603859

The National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry awarded The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York (operating as SUNY at Binghamton) $362,941 on August 1, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to support collaborative research on electrochemical methods for polymer recycling.

Professor John Swierk of the Department of Chemistry at Binghamton University and Professor Elizabeth Elacqua of the Department of Chemistry at Pennsylvania State University will investigate electrochemically mediated approaches to break sulfur cross-links in cross-linked polymers such as rubber, which currently pose substantial waste challenges. The research targets synthesis of molecular and macromolecular systems with modular sulfur content, investigation of their degradation using electrochemically generated redox mediators, and selective cleavage and reformation of sulfur-based crosslinks. The project will evaluate performance of new composite materials incorporating devulcanized rubber to support advanced manufacturing strategies for rubber recycling and electrochemical methods in polymer chemistry.

The award funds work at Binghamton, New York, with a period of performance from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2029. An integrated education component includes STEM teaching at the middle grades level (grades 3–6) with extended summer research experiences for teachers, regular classroom visits, and an annual summer workshop centered on polymer recycling. The research lies at the intersection of materials, physical, and inorganic chemistry and will support interdisciplinary training of scientists at all levels.