revolPET®: An Innovative “Back-to-Monomer” Recycling Technology for the Open Loop Value Chain of PET and Polyester Composite Packaging and Textiles

Abstract

AbstractNowadays there is a need for innovative solutions for composite materials in the packaging and textile sectors. These are formed by multilayer structures that improve technical performance however complicates recycling. Consequently, they are mostly sent to energy recovery or downgrade recycling processes. To avoid this, new recycling technologies are needed.The innovative “back-to-monomer” recycling technology “revolPET®” represents a solution for this challenge. In the process, the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is selectively depolymerized to recover the monomers ethylene glycol (EG) and terephthalic acid (TA) for a new PET production. By an alkaline hydrolysis, the PET reacts continuously with a strong base in a twin-screw extruder. The average residence time in the extruder is less than one minute with a process yield up to 95%. Due to the mild depolymerization conditions, the other polymers remain chemically unchanged and can be easily separated. The produced monomers are regained in virgin quality and can achieve a 33% reduction on the greenhouse gases emissions if compared with the crude oil production route.In this contribution, the technology on a pilot scale as well as the results of the first scale-up investigations are presented and discussed with respect to technical maturity and environmental benefit.