Highly efficient recycling of polyester wastes to diols using Ru and Mo dual-atom catalyst

The chemical recycling of polyester wastes is of great significance for sustainable development, providing access to oxygen-containing chemicals but typically suffering from low efficiency or separation difficulties. Here we report anatase TiO2 supported Ru and Mo dual-atom catalysts that convert various polyesters to corresponding diols with 100% selectivity via hydrolysis followed by hydrogenation in water under mild conditions (e.g., 160 °C, 4 MPa H2). Microscopy evidences coexistence of Ru single-atom and O-bridged Ru–Mo dual-atom sites. Ru single-atom sites activate H2 for hydrogenation of carboxylic acids derived from polyester hydrolysis, while O-bridged Ru–Mo sites suppress hydrodeoxygenation of resultant alcohols due to a high reaction energy barrier. The dual-atom catalysts can be regenerated with high activity and stability. This work provides an effective approach to reconstruct polyester wastes into valuable diols with promising application potential.