COMPARATIVE PROCESS OF DEPOLYMERIZATION OF PET: CONTINUOUS

(EXTRUSION) AND BATCH PROCESSES (HAAKE MIXER)

University of Minho Author*: F. COSTA

School of Engineering
IPC- Instituto de Polímeros e Compósitos Supervisors: João Maia, Ana Vera Machado
*fcosta@dep.uminho.pt

Introduction: Characterization:
Haake mixer results
1. Rheology:
It is well know that the consumption of poly(ethylene terephthatlate) Performed on a AR-G2 rheometer, using a plate-plate geometry
(PET) is widely increasing and it is crucial to develop an efficient and (diameter = 40mm) with a 1.000 mm gap. All measurements were
economical process to recycle PET. The recycling of PET has been carried out at the same temperature of the experiments.
studied for many years. These studies have been made mostly in 2. Solution viscosimetry:
batch using different types of depolymerisation agents, such as,
ethylene glycol (EG) and methanol (MeOH) (Chen et al., 1999). Some Performed at 25°C according to the ISO 1628-5 method using na
works had been performed using a continuous process by extrusion Ubbelohde type viscosimeter.
(Dannoux et al., 2002; Yalçinyuva et al., 2000). The studies that were
made in batch occurred using catalysts (Ghaemy et al., 2005; Baliga
et al., 1989). However, Bu2SnO as catalyst was also used during Results:
extrusion (Dannoux et al., 2002). To achive depolymerisation using
these methods required to work in extreme conditions.
Extruder results
Depolymerization of PET by a glycolysis reaction is the most common
(Colomines et al., 2005), in which in the presence of EG, the Q=2Kg/ h;r=150rpm Q=2Kg/ h; r=200rpm
monomer bis(hydroxyrthyl)terephthalate (BHET) and a mix of 1 1
oligomers like dimmers and trimers are obtained. These compounds 0,1 PET 0,1 PET
have low molecular weight and its possible to use them for EG/PET=0 EG/PET=0

d
η re

dn
re
0,01
repolimerization. This work, aims to compare two processes of PET 0,01
EG/PET=0.005 EG/PET=0.005

depolymerization: batch and extrusion via glycolysis using EG as 0,001

EG/PET=0.01 0,001 EG/PET=0.01
EG/PET=0.05 0,01 0,1 1 10 EG/PET=0.05
depolymerizer agent. No other catalyst was used and the temperature 0,01 0,1 1 10

Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)

used was near the melting point of PET. In addition, the effects of the Conclusions:
ratio of EG relatively to PET and equipment conditions, such screw •The reaction of depolymerisation of PET was achieved by extrusion
(for the extruder) and rotor (for the mixer) speed were studied.
and by batch with similar yields but at different reaction conditions.
•The amount of EG influence the rate of depolymerisation, being the
Q=4Kg/ H; r=150rpm Q=4Kg/ h; r=200rpm concentration of 0.05% more effective.
Experimental: 1 1
•These techniques seem to be a promising step in the
0,1 PET 0,1 PET depolymerization of PET.
EG/PET=0 EG/PET=0

d
d

n
n

re
re

0,01 0,01
EG/PET=0.005 EG/PET=0.005

0,001
EG/PET=0.01
EG/PET=0.05
0,001
EG/PET=0.01
EG/PET=0.05
References:
0,01 0,1 1 10 0,01 0,1 1 10

Frequency (Hz)
Chen, J.-W., Chen, L.-W., “The Glycolysis of Poly(ethylene
Frequency (Hz)
terephthalate)”, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 73, 35–40
Extruder Haake mixer (1999).
Screw speed (rpm) 150 200 Rotor speed (rpm) 50 100 Dannoux, M., Cassagnau, P., Michel, A., “Synthesis of Oligoester α,ω-
diols by Alcoholysis of PET through the Reactive Extrusion Process”,
Feed rate (Kg/h) 2 4 Mass of PET (g) 70 70 The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol. 80, 1075 (2002).
Yalçinyuva, T., Kamal, M.R., Lai-Fook, R.A., Özgümüs, S.,”Hydrolytic
Temperature (ºC) 280 Temperature (ºC) 250, 260 Depolymerization of Polyethylene Terephthalate by Reactive
Extrusion”, Inter. Polymer Processing, Vol. 15, 2 (2000).
G. Colomines et all, “Study of the glycolysis of PET by oligoesters”,
Depolymerizer agent: EG Polymer, Vol. 46, 3230 (2005).
EG/PET 0,005 0,01 0,05
(% wt)

Engenharia para a Qualidade de Vida: SAÚDE, LAZER E AMBIENTE– Semana da Escola de Engenharia -11 a 16 de Outubro de 2010