Process for recycling polyethylene terephthalate using a washing reactor

A method for producing a first intermediate product, comprising:

• a. providing a feedstock that comprises a first polyester;
• b. contacting the feedstock with a first amount of a first organic compound in a volume section V1 to obtain a first initial mixture, wherein the first amount is in the form of a liquid and wherein the intrinsic viscosity of the first polyester in the volume section V1 varies by less than 15%;
• c. transporting the first polyester from the volume section V1 to a volume section V2;
• d. contacting the first polyester with a further amount of the first organic compound in the volume section V2;
• e. reducing an intrinsic viscosity of the first polyester in the volume section V2, wherein, after the reductions step has been completed, the first polyester has an intrinsic viscosity in the range of 0.10 dL/g to 0.45 dL/g;
• f. transporting the first polyester to a volume section V3;
• g. contacting the first polyester with a further organic compound in the volume section V3 to obtain a further initial mixture;
• h. reducing a weight average molar mass of the first polyester in the volume section V3 to obtain a first intermediate mixture, wherein the first intermediate mixture comprises
• i. a first intermediate product that has an intrinsic viscosity in the range of 0.010 dL/g to 0.090 dL/g,
• ii. the further organic compound;
• wherein
• a mass ratio of the feedstock to the first organic compound in the volume section V1 is in the range of 0.02 to 3, and
• the temperature of the first initial mixture in the volume section V1 is in the range of 60° C. to 90° C.,
• with the intrinsic viscosity, the mass ratio of the feedstock to the first organic compound in the volume section V1, and the temperature in the volume section V1 determined according to the methods described herein.