Process including depolymerization in polyester reactor for recycling polyester materials

摘要

Previously used poly(ethylene terephthalate) polyester materials and copolymers thereof, and in particular postconsumer polyester materials, are depolymerized and repolymerized to produce bottle grade polymer containing up to 75% of the previously used material. The process involves the solubilization and depolymerization of the previously used polyester material in a transesterification and/or polymerization mixture containing dimethylterephthalate, ethylene glycol and transesterification products thereof.