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Hydrolysis reaction of poly(ethylene terephthalate) using ionic liquids as solvent and catalyst
Author(s) -
Liu Fusheng,
Cui Xiao,
Yu Shitao,
Li Zhuo,
Ge Xiaoping
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.30981
Subject(s) - terephthalic acid , ionic liquid , catalysis , solvent , yield (engineering) , hydrolysis , ethylene , chemistry , chloride , polymer chemistry , nuclear chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , polyester , metallurgy
The hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was studied using ionic liquid 1‐ n ‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim][Cl]) as solvent and acid‐functionalized ionic liquid 1‐methyl‐3‐(3‐sulfopropyl)‐imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([HSO 3 −pmim][HSO 4 ]) as catalyst. The effects of temperature, time, and dosages of solvent and catalyst on hydrolysis results were examined. Under the optimum conditions of m(PET) : m(H 2 O) : m([Bmim][Cl]) : m([HSO 3 −pmim][HSO 4 ]) = 3 : 4 : 6 : 0.6, reaction temperature 170°C and time 4.5 h, the conversion of PET and the yield of terephthalic acid (TPA) were almost 100% and ≥88%, respectively. After easily separated from the product, the ionic liquids could be reused eight times without obvious decrease in the conversion of PET and yield of TPA. Hence, an environmental friendly strategy for chemical recycling of PET was developed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009