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Title: Envisioning a BHET Economy: Adding Value to PET Waste
Poly(ethylene terephthalate), the fifth most produced polymer, generates significant waste annually. This increased waste production has spurred interest in chemical and mechanical pathways for recycling. The shift from laboratory settings to larger-scale implementation creates opportunities to explore the value and recovery of recycling products. Derived from the glycolysis of PET, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) exhibits versatility as a depolymerization product and valuable monomer. BHET exhibits versatility and finds application across diverse industries such as resins, coatings, foams, and tissue scaffolds. Incorporating BHET, which is a chemical recycling product, supports higher recycling rates and contributes to a more sustainable approach to generating materials. This review illuminates the opportunities for BHET as a valuable feedstock for a more circular polymer materials economy.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2132183
PAR ID:
10539008
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Publisher / Repository:
ACS
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Sustainable Chemistry
Volume:
4
Issue:
4
ISSN:
2673-4079
Page Range / eLocation ID:
363 to 393
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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