Closed-loop recycling of automotive semi-rigid polyurethane foam using renewable coconut oil

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216305%3A26310%2F26%3A0201722" target="_blank" >RIV/00216305:26310/26:0201722 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479726004445?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479726004445?via%3Dihub</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128984" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128984</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Closed-loop recycling of automotive semi-rigid polyurethane foam using renewable coconut oil

Original language description

The automotive sector represents one of the major application fields for polyurethane (PUR) materials, but their end-of-life management still remains a significant sustainability challenge. This study presents a closed-loop recycling approach for semi-rigid PUR foams employed as interior acoustic insulation in automotive headliners. A bio-based transesterified coconut oil was utilized as a sustainable solvolysis reagent to depolymerize automotive PUR waste and recover recycled polyol. The regenerated recycled polyol exhibited suitable hydroxyl value and viscosity, allowing direct substitution of up to 40 wt% of standard polyol in industrial formulations of semi-rigid PUR foam. The PUR foam with incorporated recycled polyol exhibited good structural integrity, sufficient stiffness due to the presence of aromatic structures, along with balanced flexibility derived from glyceride chain segments, thereby avoiding brittleness. The laboratory-scale formulation was successfully scaled up for the production of an industrial headliner demonstrator, confirming the practical feasibility of recycled polyol use in real manufacturing conditions. This work highlights a circular and sustainable strategy for PURbased automotive components, reducing dependence on petrochemical feedstocks and mitigating environmental impacts.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Project

—

Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2026

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Environmental Management

ISSN

0301-4797

e-ISSN

1095-8630

Volume of the periodical

401

Issue of the periodical within the volume

March

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

13

Pages from-to

128984-128984

UT code for WoS article

001693835800001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105030144042