STUDY ON METHANOLYSIS OF WASTE POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE) IN IONIC LIQUID

摘要

The methanolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was studied using ionic liquid 1- n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as solvent and zinc acetate as catalyst. The effects of reaction temperature, time, dosages of solvent and catalyst on methanolysis results were examined. The obtained optimum reaction conditions were reaction temperature 160℃, reaction time 3h, m(solvent):m(PET)=2:l, m(zinc acetate):m(reaction mixture)=l:20. Under above conditions, the conversion of PET could reach 100%. After easily separated from the product, the system of solvent and catalyst could be reused 8 times without obvious decrease in conversion of PET. Therefore, an environmental friendly approach for methanolysis of waste PET was developed.