Synthesis of High Polymers Using C₁ Compounds

Our economic social structure and living modes based on mass production as well as mass consumption and disposal are aggravating problems concerning the exhaustion of natural resources and global environment. Accordingly, the economic and living modes are being necessarily reassessed from the need of utilizing natural resources effectively and preserving our living environments, and establishment of a sustainable society that can realize a harmony of human activities and natural environment has become the most serious subject for all mankind toward the 21st century. In the high polymer industry, establishment of technologies for the sustained manufacture of high polymers that reduce the burden on natural environment through the life cycle, has become a major theme of research. Recently, biodegradable plastics, which are decomposed by microorganisms in soil and water, have been attracting much attention as new materials that are in harmony with nature. Because they are incorporated into the natural ecosystem (global carbon cycle via biomass) and thus cause no environmental problems. This article reviews outline of high polymer syntheses using syngas(CO + H₂ and its derivatives that can be obtained through steam treatment of diverse carbon resources which are available in sustainable volumes, such as waste plastics contained in city refuse, biomass that is a regenerative resouce, as well as coal and non-petroleum carbon resources. It also introduces syngas-aided synthesis of biodegradaable plastics which the authors are studying.