Recycling 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxlic acid (2,6-NDA) contained in polyethylene naphthalate in a process to produce diesters

摘要

Disclosed is a process for preparing a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, said process comprising: directing a liquid phase reaction mixture comprising a C1-6 alcohol, a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and a polyethylene naphthalate containing material, at a temperature range of about 500 F to about 700 F, and at a pressure in the range of about 5 to about 250 atmospheres absolute, through series arranged reaction zones while introducing a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, a polyethylene naphthalate containing material, and a C1-6 alcohol to an upstream reaction zone, agitating at least one reaction zone, and removing a product comprising a dialkylester formed by the reaction of the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and the polyethylene naphthalate containing material with the C1-6 alcohol from a downstream reaction zone. Also disclosed is a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid prepared by the above process.