Degradation of Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate

 The synthesis method of dioctyl terephthalate ( DOTP) from waste PET bottles with the catalysts of zinc acetate and magnesia is investigated. Influence factors in the process of glycolysis and esterification are researched by orthogonal experiments. The products were characterized by HPLC， Mass and IR spectrum. According to results of experiments， the optimal reaction condition are reaction time of 8 hour， temperature of 200 7，weight ratio ( catalyst to PET) of 15， and mole ratio (2-EH to PET) of 4. Under these conditions the yield of DOTP is 82.35 . Compared with other esterified catalysts， the complex catalysts of zinc acetate and magnesia have the best catalytic activity.