Improved poly ethylene terephthalate decontamination

摘要

A process for removing contaminants from PET components by depolymerising poly ethylene terephthalate ("PET") comprising transesterifying material containing PET by reacting ethanediol having a temperature at or about the boiling point of ethanediol with the material for a predetermined period of time to form a solution containing soluble short chain PET polymers and/or bis (hydroxy ethyl) terephthalate ester ("BHT"); recovering short chain PET polymers and/or BHT and ethanediol; and hydrolysing the recovered short chain PET polymers and/or BHT at elevated pressure and temperature for a predetermined period of time to form an ethanediol solution and crystals of terephthalic acid.