The depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate - PET in pure water and in 7,5M aqueous solutions of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, sodium acetate and sodium hydroxide was tested at 100ºC and 1 atm, in order to obtain terephthalic acid (TPA). The effect from the size of the particles on the reaction kinetics was studied quantitatively. Pure water and the solutions of acetic acid and sodium acetate practically did not degrade PET after five days of reaction, while the sulfuric acid solution allowed 80% of depolymerization during the same period. Sodium hydroxide was the best hydrolysis agent, resulting in 95% depolymerization of the the larger particle size PET (between 2mm and 1,19mm) in 7 hours and 98% of the smaller particle size PET (less than 1,19mm) in 5 hours. Terephthalic acid was obtained, purified and characterized, and the results were similar to those of petrochemical TPA (purity higher than 99%).
PET hydrolysis; sodium hydroxide; terephthalic acid; depolymerization; chemical recycling
