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Acetolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate for upcycling and life-cycle assessment study

Author

Listed:
  • Yuantao Peng

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jie Yang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Chenqiang Deng

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jin Deng

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Li Shen

    (Utrecht University, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development)

  • Yao Fu

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

To reduce environmental pollution and reliance on fossil resources, polyethylene terephthalate as the most consumed synthetic polyester needs to be recycled effectively. However, the existing recycling methods cannot process colored or blended polyethylene terephthalate materials for upcycling. Here we report a new efficient method for acetolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol diacetate in acetic acid. Since acetic acid can dissolve or decompose other components such as dyes, additives, blends, etc., Terephthalic acid can be crystallized out in a high-purity form. In addition, Ethylene glycol diacetate can be hydrolyzed to ethylene glycol or directly polymerized with terephthalic acid to form polyethylene terephthalate, completing the closed-loop recycling. Life cycle assessment shows that, compared with the existing commercialized chemical recycling methods, acetolysis offers a low-carbon pathway to achieve the full upcycling of waste polyethylene terephthalate.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuantao Peng & Jie Yang & Chenqiang Deng & Jin Deng & Li Shen & Yao Fu, 2023. "Acetolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate for upcycling and life-cycle assessment study," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38998-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38998-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hua Zhou & Yue Ren & Zhenhua Li & Ming Xu & Ye Wang & Ruixiang Ge & Xianggui Kong & Lirong Zheng & Haohong Duan, 2021. "Electrocatalytic upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate to commodity chemicals and H2 fuel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. L. Jiang & A. Gonzalez-Diaz & J. Ling-Chin & A. Malik & A. P. Roskilly & A. J. Smallbone, 2020. "PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 761-767, September.
    3. V. Tournier & C. M. Topham & A. Gilles & B. David & C. Folgoas & E. Moya-Leclair & E. Kamionka & M.-L. Desrousseaux & H. Texier & S. Gavalda & M. Cot & E. Guémard & M. Dalibey & J. Nomme & G. Cioci & , 2020. "An engineered PET depolymerase to break down and recycle plastic bottles," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7802), pages 216-219, April.
    4. Shen, Li & Worrell, Ernst & Patel, Martin K., 2010. "Open-loop recycling: A LCA case study of PET bottle-to-fibre recycling," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 34-52.
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