Chemical recycling of PET bottles through glycolysis operates at temperatures between 170-250°C, requiring precise control of reaction conditions and catalyst concentrations. Current industrial processes face challenges with colored and opaque PET bottles, where pigments and additives can interfere with depolymerization efficiency and product purity, leading to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) yields below optimal levels.

The fundamental challenge lies in balancing reaction conditions and catalyst selection to achieve complete depolymerization while minimizing unwanted side reactions and maintaining product quality.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including two-stage depolymerization processes, novel catalyst systems using aluminum chloride/sodium chloride mixtures, superheated steam applications, and enzymatic approaches. These and other methods focus on improving BHET purity while reducing energy consumption and processing time in industrial-scale operations.

Innovations in PET Bottle Recycling

Chemical Recycling

Preprocessing

Sorting

Mechanical Recycling