One-pot synthesis of titanium isophthalate and highly active catalytic glycolysis of waste PET

Abstract

The glycolysis of PET represents a pivotal approach to achieving high-value utilization following its disposal. However, an efficient and cost-effective catalyst is required. This study reports on the use of a titanium isophthalate (Ti-IPA) catalyst for PET depolymerization. Ti-IPA was prepared using isophthalic acid and titanate as raw materials via a one-pot method. The study investigated the effects of different titanium sources and solvent types on Ti-IPA. The optimal conditions for the glycolysis reaction were determined using response surface methodology, and the 0.86% Ti-IPA catalyst provided a BHET yield of 84.86% for a reaction lasting 3.15 h at 194 °C with 12.8 mL ethylene glycol. Finally, a comparative analysis of the catalytic performance of Ti-IPA revealed that it is a promising novel catalyst with significant commercial potential.