Optimization of Ti-PA efficiently catalytic the alcoholysis of waste PET using response surface methodology.

Abstract

A new type of titanium phthalate (Ti-PA) catalyst was prepared by exchange method of phthalic acid and isopropyl titanate, which is never been reported before. The Ti-PA catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, TG, Uv-vis, BET, SEM, and EDS. The Ti-PA catalyst shows good catalytic activity in the alcoholysis reaction of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and optimal experimental conditions for the alcoholysis process were optimized by response surface methodology; the Ti-PA catalyst provided a BHET yield of 81.98% for reaction lasting 3.98h at 191°C of 0.86% catalyst and 13.7ml ethylene glycol; the model has good reliability. The kinetics and reaction mechanism of the process were explored and apparent activation energy is 75.52kJ/mol. Finally, the good catalytic activity of Ti-PA was illustrated by comparing it with currently reported catalysts.