Production of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol from polyethlene terephthalate by ammoniolysis
AssigneeEastman Chemical Company
InventorWilliam Speight Murdoch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for forming reactants useful in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate includes the steps of: (a) contacting recyclable polyethylene terephthalate with ammonium hydroxide whereby a mixture of ammonium terephthalate and ethylene glycol is formed, (b) separating the ammonium terephthalate, and (c) heating said ammonium terephthalate at a temperature from about 225° C. to about 300° C. to produce terephthalic acid.
Claims14
A process for recycling polyethylene terephthalate to form reactants useful in the manufacture thereof comprising:
- (a) contacting recyclable polyethylene terephthalate with ammonium hydroxide to form a mixture of ammonium terephthalate and ethylene glycol;
- (b) separating said ammonium terephthalate from the mixture;
- and
- (c) heating said ammonium terephthalate to form TPA and ammonia.
A polyethylene terephthalate depolymerization and purification process comprising:
- (a) conducting depolymerization by treating recyclable polyethylene terephthalate with ammonium hydroxide to form a mixture of ammonium terephthalate and ethylene glycol;
- (b) removing said ammonium terephthalate from the mixture;
- (c) heating said ammonium terephthalate to form terephthalic acid and ammonia;
- and
- (d) polymerizing said ethylene glycol and said terephthalic acid under esterificatlon and polycondensation conditions to form a polyethylene terephthalate product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.