Catalytic Conversion of Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate to Terephthalic Acid
- 1Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Environment Science, Shaanxi University of Technology, No. 1 Dong Yi Huan Road, Hanzhong 723001, China
- 2CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China
- 3Liaoning Binhai Laboratory, No. 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China
Abstract
Against the backdrop of intensifying global plastic pollution and tightening resource and environmental constraints, the efficient recycling of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has become a critical enabler for realizing a circular plastics economy. This article systematically summarizes and evaluates the main technical strategies for the directional catalytic conversion of waste PET into terephthalic acid (TPA). These routes include chemical catalytic depolymerization (acid catalysis, alkali catalysis, electrocatalysis, microwave-assisted processes, and photocatalysis), biocatalytic depolymerization (encompassing specific PET hydrolase-mediated enzymatic degradation and engineered microbial whole-cell catalytic systems). A comparative analysis is conducted on the reaction mechanisms, depolymerization efficiency, process controllability, and scalability potential of each method, along with a critical assessment of recent progress. This review aims to provide theoretical support and technical decision-making references for the high-value utilization of waste PET, monomer-level closed-loop regeneration, and the development of a sustainable plastic industry chain.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026catalytic,
title = {{Catalytic Conversion of Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate to Terephthalic Acid}},
author = {Tong Zhang and Zhipeng Li and Wei Wang and Li Huang and Ning Li},
journal = {Catalysts},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/catal16100888},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/16/10/888},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Catalytic Conversion of Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate to Terephthalic Acid
AU - Tong Zhang
AU - Zhipeng Li
AU - Wei Wang
AU - Li Huang
AU - Ning Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Catalysts
DO - 10.3390/catal16100888
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/16/10/888
AB - Against the backdrop of intensifying global plastic pollution and tightening resource and environmental constraints, the efficient recycling of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has become a critical enabler for realizing a circular plastics economy. This article systematically summarizes and evaluates the main technical strategies for the directional catalytic conversion of waste PET into terephthalic acid (TPA). These routes include chemical catalytic depolymerization (acid catalysis, alkali catalysis, electrocatalysis, microwave-assisted processes, and photocatalysis), biocatalytic depolymerization (encompassing specific PET hydrolase-mediated enzymatic degradation and engineered microbial whole-cell catalytic systems). A comparative analysis is conducted on the reaction mechanisms, depolymerization efficiency, process controllability, and scalability potential of each method, along with a critical assessment of recent progress. This review aims to provide theoretical support and technical decision-making references for the high-value utilization of waste PET, monomer-level closed-loop regeneration, and the development of a sustainable plastic industry chain.
SN - 2073-4344
ER -