Microwave-assisted transesterification reaction of polyethylene terephthalate under basic condition

  • Dr Yusuke Asakuma, University of Hyogo, Japan
  • Daisuke Koga, University of Hyogo, Japan
  • Dr Kyuya Nakagawa, University of Hyogo, Japan
  • Dr Kouji Maeda, University of Hyogo, Japan
  • Prof Keisuke Fukui, University of Hyogo, Japan

    • The depolymerization reaction of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was analyzed on the basis of experimental data and numerical data. Ethylene glycol was used as a solvent under basic condition and microwave was irradiated to promote the reaction. Moreover, water, whose molecule is sensitive to microwave beam, was added to make the reaction more efficient. The activation energy and reaction rate obtained from experimental data with and without microwave showed that improvement of heating efficiency by microwave was confirmed.