A novel catalyst for the glycolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract

Abstract Poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste materials were depolymerized by ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DEG), and propylene glycol (PG) in the presence of a novel catalytic system: titanium (IV)‐phosphate. The new catalyst was synthesized through a reaction of TiCl 4 with triethyl phosphate (C 2 H 5 O) 3 P(O). It was found that the depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber proceeds faster in the presence of titanium (IV)‐phosphate compared with compounds traditionally used in this process like Zn(OOCCH 3 ) 2 . The oligomer distribution in the glycolysis products was studied by size‐exclusion chromatography. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 1148–1152, 2003