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Aminolytic Depolymerization of Polyethylene Terephthalate Wastes Using Sn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

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Abstract

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is one of the most consumed polymers because of its excellent thermal and mechanical properties. By increasing in PET production and since the disposal of PET waste has grown to be a major global environmental issue each year. Chemical recycling is the most successful method to achieve circular economy in the PET utilizing industries. Current research work aims to complete depolymerization of waste PET from soft drink bottles by the aminolysis method to produce bis (2-hydroxy ethylene) terephthalamide (BHETA) in the presence of Sn doped ZnO. To evaluate catalytic activity, Sn(II) doped ZnO nanoparticles prepared using different Sn(II) molar ratios at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mol% and calcined at 500 °C for 1 h. The synthesized catalysts characterised using FT-IR, XRD, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The surface morphology and percentage doping obtained from SEM and SEM–EDS, respectively. We have observed a reduction in optical band gap and crystallite size of ZnO due to tin doping. Aminolytic depolymerization of PET waste using ethanolamine was promoted by Sn doped ZnO effectively under conventional thermal method. Increase in the yield of the BHETA observed with respect to increased doping percentage of Sn, and 1, 2 mol% Sn doped ZnO nanoparticles afforded over 90% of BHETA. Structure and purity of BHETA, depolymerised product was characterized by FT-IR, 1HNMR, 13C NMR, and MS.

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The sample of catalysts and BHETA available from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support received from the University Grants Commission (UGC) in the form of a minor research project [File No. F: MRP-6393/16 (SERO/UGC)] is gratefully acknowledged by Dr.V.Sivamurugan. All the authors are very thankful to Centralized Sophisticated Instrument Facilities (CSIF), Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM), SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Katankulathur – 603 203 and SCIF:SRM Central Instrumentation Facility, NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTRE for providing characterisation facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PG and Research Department of Chemistry, Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai, 600 030, India

    Viswanathan Vinitha, Murugan Anbarasu, Gopal Jeya & Vajiravelu Sivamurugan

  2. Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603 203, India

    Mani Preeyanghaa

  3. Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603 203, India

    Bernaurdshaw Neppolian

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  1. Viswanathan Vinitha
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Vinitha, V., Preeyanghaa, M., Anbarasu, M. et al. Aminolytic Depolymerization of Polyethylene Terephthalate Wastes Using Sn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles. J Polym Environ 30, 3566–3581 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-022-02455-9

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