Process for depolymerization of a poly(C2-C4 alkylene terephthalate)
AssigneeEastman Chemical Company
InventorsRobert Jacks Sharpe, Michael Charles Morrow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a process for depolymerization of a poly(C2-C4 alkylene terephthalate), which comprises contacting a poly(C2-C4 alkylene terephthalate) with methanol and a catalyst chosen from potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium methoxide, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, and triazabicyclodecene, at a temperature sufficient to effect said depolymerization. The process of the invention can be carried out a substantially lower temperature and requires less methanol than necessary for zinc acetate-catalyzed reactions, and is sufficiently robust to tolerate lower-quality poly(C2-C4 alkylene terephthalate) scrap feeds.
Claims9
A process for methanolytic depolymerization of a poly(C2-C4 alkylene terephthalate), which comprises contacting a poly(C2-C4 alkylene terephthalate) with methanol and a catalyst chosen from magnesium methoxide, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, and triazabicyclodecene, at a temperature sufficient to effect said depolymerization, wherein the temperature ranges from about 100° C. to about 180° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.