Patent ID: 6545061
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: C08G

Abstract:
A polyethylene terephthalate depolymerization and purification process comprising:(a) conducting acetolysis on recyclable polyethylene terephthalate to form terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol diacetate; (b) reacting said terephthalic acid with methanol to form dimethyl terephthalate; and (c) reacting said dimethyl terephthalate with said ethylene glycol diacetate under transesterification and polycondensation conditions to form a polyethylene terephthalate product, said polyethylene terephthalate product having units of diethylene glycol at a concentration of less than about 1.5 weight percent, based on the total weight of said polyethylene terephthalate product.