#InsideDCDYNAMIC – Philip Verdross

My role is to develop homogeneous catalysts and related methods for the chemical depolymerisation of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) into valuable small molecules. The latter can be further used to again produce polymers or other valuable chemicals.

Chemistry is our society’s tool to address the problems of our generation. It is the science of transformation of matter, and therefore of pivotal importance when it comes to novel recycling methods. Especially the recycling of materials (such as polymers) is key to avoid waste, and ultimately carbon dioxide emissions. Since I want to have impact as a researcher on problems that concern our environment, I try to contribute solutions that enable a more careful use of resources. 

Green energy also comes with production sites that provide this energy. Harvesting wind energy is one of the most attractive opportunities for the European continent and a realistic route to follow while progressing to net-zero targets. But the production of wind turbines and energy infrastructure comes with end-of-life waste. A wind turbine will not work forever, so we must think about what to do with its remains. Cables connecting offshore wind parks with the mainland represent a considerable portion of this “waste”, and XLPE represents a considerable portion of a cable. Since polyethylene in all forms is produced from fossil carbon, it would be a contradiction not to recycle it. By keeping these resources in the loop, the overall carbon footprint of wind parks can be potentially lowered. 

Our recycling approach starts with the abstraction of molecular hydrogen from polyethylene (PE). This step is energetically challenging: the molecules we investigate do not readily react in such way, due to considerable energy gaps between precursors and products. While other technologies that lead to chemical depolymerisation of XLPE are well researched, the development of catalysts that abstract hydrogen (dehydrogenation) reasonably from PE is still in its infancy. Compounds that are based on the most precious metals are being used in this field. While academic research up until now showed little interest in producing recoverable and reusable compounds that can achieve our goal, we did put effort into these goals. If we do not recover these compounds, recycling is not feasible due to the cost of catalysts exceeding the cost of PE. We accepted the challenge by screening a few hundred in-house-made compounds for efficient dehydrogenation and identified multiple candidates that we now inspect thoroughly for recoverability and reusability. Being allowed to contribute to this research area, that might enable circular polyolefins is the most exciting part of my work. 

Copious amounts of strong italian coffee. 

Early morning in the lab. 

Spring 

My free time is fully dedicated to my son and my partner. Spending time with my family is my anchor. Success in chemistry is based on unbridled creativity and hard work to turn ideas into reality. I need a place to come back from a day of brainstorming, learning (our euphemism for a failed experiment), and creating. That is surely my home. 

Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams (2025)