Process for producing bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate in liquid form by depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

A process for producing bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) in liquid form by depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the process comprising:

• (a) depolymerizing a PET by glycolysis with monoethylene glycol (MEG) to obtain a crude BHET solution;
• (b) subjecting the crude BHET solution to purification to obtain a purified BHET solution;
• (c) subjecting the purified BHET solution to crystallization by cooling to obtain BHET in crystalline form impregnated with a solvent;
• and
• (d) preparing, by melting the BHET in crystalline form, a solution of BHET in the solvent at a temperature lower than or equal to 90° C. and higher than or equal to 70° C. by optionally adjusting a content of the solvent in the BHET solution thus obtained to a value to obtain a melting temperature of the BHET within a range of from 70° C. to 90° C.,
• wherein
• the solvent is water, and an amount of water is from 12% to 20% by weight with respect to a total weight of the solution of the BHET and water to obtain the melting temperature of the BHET of from 70° C. to 90° C.;
• or
• the solvent is a mixture of water and MEG in a water/MEG weight ratio of from 0.5 to 2, and an amount of the mixture of water and MEG is from 15% to 30% by weight with respect to a total weight of the solution of the BHET and the mixture to obtain the melting temperature of the BHET of from 70° C. to 90° C.