Economically attractive technologies for plastic recycling

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:430478

Cruz-Gomez, M J; Lopez-Castillo, N N; Cruz-Guerra, C de la ^[1]; Cohen-Barki, A; Ramirez-de-Arellano-Aburto, N ^[2]

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1. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City (Mexico)
2. Resinas y Materiales, Mexico City (Mexico)

This paper describes experiments investigating the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Hydrolysis, glycolysis, and methanolysis reactions were studied. The use of the crude monomer to produce the plasticizer dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) was also examined. Hydrolysis produced a terephthalic acid unsuitable for plasticizer. The glycolysis reaction product, bis(2-hydroxyethyl terphthalate), might be suitable without further purification for producing elastomeric copolyester. Three differently prepared products of the methanolysis reaction were use in plasticizer production. Economic analysis indicates the cost of recovered dimethyl terephthalate to be on the order of 60% of $800 per metric ton. 7 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 430478
• Report Number(s): CONF-960730--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
DEPOLYMERIZATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
GLYCOLS
HYDROLYSIS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
PLASTICIZERS
POLYESTERS
POLYETHYLENES
RECYCLING