Process for treating polyester methanolysis depolymerization product streams

A method for treating the product stream from a polyester methanolysis depolymerization process, said product stream comprising dimethyl terephthalate and one or more side species selected from the group consisting of dimethyl phthalate, dimethyl isophthalate, bisphenol-A, an adipic acid diester and one or more colorants, said method comprising

• (a) hydrogenating said dimethyl terephthalate to form one or more of dimethyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol;
• and
• (b) hydrogenating one or more of said one or more side species of said product stream;
• wherein (i) said one or more side species comprises dimethyl phthalate and said hydrogenating step (b) comprises hydrogenating said dimethyl phthalate to form one or more of dimethyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate and 1,2-cyclohexanedimethanol;
• (ii) said one or more side species comprises bisphenol-A and said hydrogenating step (b) comprises hydrogenating said bisphenol-A to from hydrogenated bisphenol A of the formula:
• or (iii) said one or more side species comprises an adipic acid diester and said hydrogenating step (b) comprises hydrogenating said adipic acid ester to form a diol.