Guilhem De Hoe

Assistant Professor University of Florida

Gainesville FL

Guilhem De Hoe focuses on the chemistry and engineering of plastics and composites, including their recycling and ability to biodegrade.

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Biography

Guilhem De Hoe has a background in chemistry, focusing on developing potentially bio-based and biodegradable plastics as well as new methods for recycling thermosets – a type of plastic that is traditionally not recyclable. He then held two post-doctoral positions to expand his skills in water-soluble polymers, plastics processing and recycling, and systems-level thinking for plastic waste management. His research group at UF focuses on understanding the relationships between plastic structure, properties, processing, and biodegradation in different environments (compost, seawater, etc.), as well as on developing new recycling strategies for plastic waste.

Areas of Expertise

Chemistry

Recycling

Thermosets

Bioplastics

Plastics

Biodegradation

Thermoplastics

Plastics Processing

Articles

Circularizing PET-G Multimaterials: Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

Peng Huang, et. al

2023-10-13

The recycling of multimaterials such as payment or access cards poses significant challenges. Building on previous experimental work demonstrating the feasibility of chemically recyclable payment cards made from glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET-G), we use life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis to investigate two chemical recycling scenarios and evaluate their potential environmental and economic benefits.

Sustainability and Polyesters: Beyond Metals and Monomers to Function and Fate

Accounts of Chemical Research

Guilhem X. De Hoe, et. al

2022-05-17

Poor waste management and unchecked consumption underpin our current paradigm of plastic use, which is demonstrably unsustainable in the long term. Nonetheless, the utility and versatility of plastics suggest that the notion of a plastic-free society is also unsustainable. Responses to this conundrum are increasing, and among these are research efforts focused on the development of more sustainable plastics.

Site-Specific Mineralization of a Polyester Hydrolysis Product in Natural Soil

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

Derek C. Batiste, et. al

2022-01-19

Poly(4-methylcaprolactone) (P4MCL) has been successfully incorporated into mechanically competitive materials with potential for biodegradability in engineered and natural systems. The mineralization of the hydrolysis product of P4MCL, 6-hydroxy-4-methylhexanoic acid (4MHA), was herein investigated by synthesizing tailor-made molecules with 13C labels in the carboxylic acid group (4MHA-13COOH) or the methyl group (4MHA-13CH3) and incubating each separately in a soil.