Efficient Depolymerization and Recycling of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) Using 1,3-Propanediol as Reaction Media

IF 5 3区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Journal of Polymers and the Environment Pub Date : 2025-05-30 DOI:10.1007/s10924-025-03580-x

Zengwei Guo, Anna Edsberger

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The chemical depolymerization of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) in 1,3- propanediol (1,3-PDO) was investigated in this study. After depolymerization, the bis-(3-hydroxypropyl terephthalate) (BHPT) was recovered, which can be directly utilized as monomer in the synthesis of PTT. Zinc acetate (Zn(OAc)₂) was found to be the most suitable catalyst in the depolymerization of PTT in 1,3-PDO since a high monomer yield was achieved and no side reactions were triggered during the depolymerization process. The reaction parameters for depolymerization in the presence of Zn(OAc)₂ catalyst was optimized. Under the optimized depolymerization conditions: reaction temperature of 220 °C, catalyst concentration of 0.2 wt% and a ratio of 1,3-PDO to PTT of 8:1, the recovered BHPT monomer yield was 83 mol% within 45 min. Then, the recovered BHPT monomer was directly regenerated into PTT though a single polycondensation process. Comparing with PTT synthesized from virgin dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), the regenerated PTT shows a better quality in terms of color.

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以1,3-丙二醇为反应介质的聚对苯二甲酸三亚甲酯高效解聚及回收

研究了聚对苯二甲酸三亚甲基酯（PTT）在1,3-丙二醇（1,3- pdo）中的化学解聚反应。解聚后，得到双-（3-羟丙基对苯二甲酸二酯）（BHPT），可直接作为单体用于合成PTT。在1,3- pdo中解聚PTT时，发现醋酸锌（Zn(OAc)2）是最合适的催化剂，因为在解聚过程中单体收率高且没有引发副反应。优化了催化剂Zn(OAc)2存在下的解聚反应参数。在最佳解聚条件下：反应温度220℃，催化剂浓度0.2 wt%, 1,3- pdo与PTT的比例为8:1，在45 min内回收BHPT单体收率为83 mol%。然后，回收的BHPT单体通过单次缩聚直接再生成PTT。与原对苯二甲酸二甲酯（DMT）合成的PTT相比，再生的PTT在颜色方面表现出更好的质量。

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来源期刊

Journal of Polymers and the Environment 工程技术-高分子科学

CiteScore

9.50

自引率

7.50%

发文量

297

审稿时长

9 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Polymers and the Environment fills the need for an international forum in this diverse and rapidly expanding field. The journal serves a crucial role for the publication of information from a wide range of disciplines and is a central outlet for the publication of high-quality peer-reviewed original papers, review articles and short communications. The journal is intentionally interdisciplinary in regard to contributions and covers the following subjects - polymers, environmentally degradable polymers, and degradation pathways: biological, photochemical, oxidative and hydrolytic; new environmental materials: derived by chemical and biosynthetic routes; environmental blends and composites; developments in processing and reactive processing of environmental polymers; characterization of environmental materials: mechanical, physical, thermal, rheological, morphological, and others; recyclable polymers and plastics recycling environmental testing: in-laboratory simulations, outdoor exposures, and standardization of methodologies; environmental fate: end products and intermediates of biodegradation; microbiology and enzymology of polymer biodegradation; solid-waste management and public legislation specific to environmental polymers; and other related topics.