Process for depolymerizing waste ethylene terephthalate polyester

摘要

Recovery of ethylene terephthalate polymer from waste material is accomplished by glycolysis of the polyester to form bis-(2- hydroxyethyl) terephthalate for repolymerization. Formation of objectionable diethylene glycol is inhibited when glycolysis is accomplished by heating the polyester in a reaction mixture with bis-(2- hydroxyethyl)terephthalate, ethylene glycol and sodium acetate trihydrate, and water is introduced continuously into the reaction mixture during depolymerization of the polyester.