Chemical upcycling of complex PET waste: Upcycling of milder reaction conditions and use for polyurethane as added-value product
This study presents an efficient chemical upcycling route for complex poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste, including post-consumer bottles, thermoform PET, and the glycolysed monomer bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET), transforming them into liquid polyols for the synthesis of polyurethan...
| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/415999 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/415999 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105024534470 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Caesium carbonate Chemical recycling PET Polyol Polyurethane Upcycling |
| Sumario: | This study presents an efficient chemical upcycling route for complex poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste, including post-consumer bottles, thermoform PET, and the glycolysed monomer bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET), transforming them into liquid polyols for the synthesis of polyurethanes. The strategy is based on a catalysed solvolysis using ethylene carbonate (EC) as both a reagent and solvent, operating under mild conditions and at atmospheric pressure. A systematic screening demonstrated that caesium carbonate (Cs<inf>2</inf>CO<inf>3</inf>) is more efficient catalyst than KOH, as it minimises the hydrolysis of carbonate groups, thereby yielding polyols with a higher content of these valuable units. Kinetic studies revealed the critical importance of reaction time and the transition from a heterogeneous to a solvated and highly swollen polymer state. The resulting polyols, with controlled molecular weights in the range of 1000–2500 g/mol —appropriate for use as soft segments— were successfully employed in the synthesis of polyurethanes. The final materials exhibited high molecular weights and thermal properties that correlate with the chemical composition of the precursor polyol, validating this methodology as a versatile and sustainable alternative to advance towards a circular economy. |
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