Terephthalic acid esters formation

A process for the depolymerization of a polyester to form a terephthalate, the process comprising:

• (a) admixing the polyester with a first portion of an alcohol to yield a first mixture, wherein the admixing is performed at a temperature from about 50° C. to about 100° C.;
• (b) adding a sub-stoichiometric amount of a metal methoxide and a second portion of the alcohol to the first mixture to yield a second mixture, wherein the sub-stoichiometric amount of the metal methoxide is from about 30:1 to about 100:1 (w/w) of the polyester to the metal methoxide;
• and
• (c) admixing the second mixture, wherein the admixing is performed at a temperature from about 70° C. to about 100° C., thereby forming the terephthalate with at least 70% yield within about 2 hours.