Studies on the Depolymerization of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Using 1, 1, 2, 2-Tetramethyl-1-Benzyl-2-n-Octyl Ethylene-1, 2-Diammonium Bromide Chloride as Phase Transfer Catalyst

Abstract

1,4-Bis (dimethyl) benzyl octyl ethylene diammonium bromide chloride has been synthesized, characterized and applied as new phase transfer catalyst in the alkaline hydrolysis of PET leading to depolymerisation. The new phase transfer catalyst has been compared with the alkaline hydrolysis of PET using zinc sulfate as catalyst in the depolymerization. It was found that the newly synthesized phase transfer catalyst exhibited excellent conversion than the alkaline hydrolysis of PET using zinc sulfate as catalyst.