PET from Used Beverage Bottles: A Material for Preparation of Biologically Degradable Copolyesters

摘要

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) from used colorless beverage bottles was solvolyzed by ethane-1,2-diol. Hydroxyl end-groups present in the mixture of polyols formed were used to initiate the polymerization of e-cap-rolactone (CLO) at 190 °C. Polycondensation (190 °C) of the reaction mixture containing an equilibrium amount of lactone corresponding to the reaction temperature yield an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester. A variety of copolyesters containing 20-60 mol. % CLO structural units was prepared. The microstructure of their macromolecules was analyzed using ~1H NMR spectroscopy. Copolyesters were characterized by thermal analysis and tensile tests and their biodegradation potential was checked by the composting test.