Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is selectively depolymerized by a carbon-supported single-site molybdenum-dioxo catalyst to terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene. The solventless reactions are most efficient under 1 atmosphere of H2. The catalyst exhibits high stability and can be recycled multiple times without loss of activity. Waste beverage bottle PET or a PET + polypropylene (PP) mixture (simulating the bottle + cap) proceeds at 260 °C with complete PET deconstruction and quantitative PTA isolation. Mechanistic studies with a model diester, 1,2-ethanediol dibenzoate, suggest the reaction proceeds by initial retro-hydroalkoxylation/β-C−O scission and subsequent hydrogenolysis of the vinyl benzoate intermediate.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 19857-19861 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Angewandte Chemie - International Edition |
Volume | 59 |
Issue number | 45 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2 2020 |
Keywords
- heterogenous catalysis
- hydrogenolysis
- molybdenum
- polymers
- reaction mechanisms
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Catalysis
- Chemistry(all)