The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded Troy University $284,387 on January 1, 2027, under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083) to support an EPSCOR Research Fellows Project on chemical upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste.
The award funds a fellowship for an assistant professor at Troy University and undergraduate student training to develop multifunctional chain extenders derived from post-consumer PET waste, addressing quality degradation during mechanical plastic recycling. The project will establish a circular economy framework by converting PET waste into oligomeric chain extenders that chemically restore the molecular weight and mechanical properties of recycled polyesters. The four-phase methodology encompasses controlled PET depolymerization, chemical functionalization into anhydride and epoxide chain extenders, reactive extrusion processing, and thermal, mechanical, and rheological characterization of the recycled material. Research infrastructure at Troy University will be expanded through faculty professional development. The work is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Alireza Abbaspourrad at Cornell University. The project runs through December 31, 2028, with place of performance in Troy, Alabama.