Original scientific paper

Chemical Recycling of Postconsumer Poly(ethylene-terephthalate) Bottles – Depolymerization Study

A. Ptiček Siročić orcid.org/0000-0001-6243-4638 ; Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Maruliæev trg 19, P.O.Box. 177, Zagreb, Croatia, HR-10000
A. Fijačko ; Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Maruliæev trg 19, P.O.Box. 177, Zagreb, Croatia, HR-10000
Z. Hrnjak-Murgić ; Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Maruliæev trg 19, P.O.Box. 177, Zagreb, Croatia, HR-10000

Abstract

Poly(ethylene-terephthalate), PET bottles waste was chemically recycled by glycolysis process. The glycolysis reaction was carried out at three temperatures 170, 180 and 190 °C in different time intervals (1, 3, 6 hours) with a weight ratio of ethylene glycol
(EG) to PET 1 : 18 and the zinc acetate as a catalyst. The glycolysis reaction leads to formation of monomers bis(2 hydroxyethyl)terephthalate (BHET) and ethylene glycol as
well as various types of PET oligomers. Depolymerization products were further characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). From the results it can be seen that remained PET products i.e. oligomers are thermally very stable and they are suitable for obtaining other polymers.

Keywords

Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate; chemical recycling; glycolysis; oligomers; poly(ethylene-terephthalate)

Hrčak ID:

99439

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/99439

Publication date:

29.3.2013.

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