The Sulfur Solution: New Chemistry for Recyclable and High-Performance Polymers
- Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Committee on Chemical Technical Professionals
- 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Online, Free, Registration required
Elemental sulfur is produced on a massive scale as an inexpensive byproduct of petroleum refining, yet much of this abundant resource remains underused. Now, emerging polymerization strategies are opening new possibilities for transforming surplus sulfur into high-performance, recyclable materials with applications ranging from safer resource recovery to next-generation plastic optics and photonics.
Join Jeffrey Pyun of the University of Arizona and Justin Chalker of Flinders University as they explore new approaches to sulfur polymer chemistry that move beyond conventional inverse vulcanization. They will showcase how elemental sulfur and sulfur-derived feedstocks can be converted into functional materials with unusual optical properties, practical processability, and opportunities for recycling. Register now to discover applications spanning plastic optics and photonics, safer gold mining and e-waste recycling, and recyclable plastics thereby demonstrating how innovative sulfur chemistry can turn an abundant industrial byproduct into a versatile resource for addressing both materials and sustainability challenges.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Neil Dolinski of Columbia University and co-produced by the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry. Join the American Chemical Society this September as we continue to celebrate our 150th Anniversary and feature events that highlight lifelong learning by advancing STEM education, inclusivity, professional development, and mentorship for chemists at every career stage.
What You Will Learn
- Turn elemental sulfur into high-performance materials
Understand how emerging polymerization strategies for sulfur-rich polymers, glasses, photopolymers, and recyclable plastics - Leverage sulfur’s unique optical properties
Design advanced materials with high refractive indices and broad transmission from the visible into infrared regions - Advance more sustainable technologies with sulfer-based polymers
Evaluate how sulfur-based polymers can advance more sustainable technologies across plastic optics and photonics, safer gold mining, and e-waste recycling - Apply emerging sulfur polymerization chemistries to practical materials fabrication
Learn about approaches such as molding, photolithography, diffractive optics, and photonic structures - Assess new pathways toward recyclable plastics
Understand how trisulfide metathesis polymerization can enable more circular polymer systems
Event Details
- Thursday, September 24, 2026 from 2:00pm-3:30pm ET
- Free to attend
- Slides will be available on day of the webinar