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Microwave Radiation Associated with the Titanate Nanotubes Catalyst to PET Glycolysis
Ananda Ramires das Neves Stigger1, Tiago Vidaletti1, Marcus Seferin1
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia e Tecnologia de MateriaisPGETEMA, Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do SulPUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Partenon, Porto Alegre 90619-900, RS, Brazil.
Abstract:
The pursuit of poly-(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) recycling procedures, particularly those employing gentler and more efficient methods, is essential. Chemical recycling by glycolysis is one of the alternatives for this process, showing several advantages, including recovery of the monomer (bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET)). Therefore, the aim of this work is to chemically recycle PET (virgin and postconsumer) via glycolysis, using titanate nanotubes (TNT) as a reaction catalyst. The novelty of this work lies in the utilization of the microwave heating process, with the reaction occurring in a closed system. The results obtained showed high efficiency in terms of reaction time, reducing the total PET conversion time to 1 h and achieving a BHET yield close to 80%, with weight ratios of ethylene glycol (EG)/PET = 4:1 and PET/catalyst = 300:1; T = 196 °C.
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