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Catalytic Conversion of Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate to Terephthalic Acid
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This review summarizes existing research on methods for breaking down waste plastic bottles (PET) into a chemical called terephthalic acid for recycling. It compares chemical methods (using acids, bases, electricity, microwaves or light) and biological methods (using enzymes or engineered microbes), evaluating their efficiency and potential for large-scale use.
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.
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Chemical Recycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate: A Review
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This review surveys advances in chemical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—including glycolysis, hydrolysis, enzymatic depolymerization, and tandem catalysis—as strategies to recover monomers and close the plastic carbon loop. Since PET is a major source of microplastic pollution through bottle and textile degradation, effective chemical recycling pathways are critical for reducing its long-term environmental persistence.
Comparsion of Catalyst Effectiveness in Different Chemical Depolymerization Methods of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)
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This review compares the effectiveness of different catalysts used in chemical recycling methods for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. The study covers hydrolysis, methanolysis, glycolysis, and other depolymerization approaches, comparing key process parameters like temperature, reaction time, and yields to help identify the most efficient PET recycling strategies.
Enzymatic PET Degradation
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This review examines enzymatic degradation of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), the plastic used in bottles and polyester clothing, as a promising pathway for breaking down this persistent polymer. Advances in engineering more efficient PET-degrading enzymes could enable industrial-scale biological recycling and reduce the environmental accumulation of PET microplastics.
Enzymatic Remediation of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)–Based Polymers for Effective Management of Plastic Wastes: An Overview
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Enzymatic approaches for remediating PET-based plastic waste were reviewed, covering PETase and related enzymes that can break PET into reusable monomers. Enzyme engineering strategies to improve thermostability and catalytic efficiency are discussed as a pathway to scalable biological PET recycling.
Valorization of Textile Waste: Enzymatic Upcycling of Terephthalic Acid Toward a Sustainable PET Value Chain
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This review summarizes new methods for using enzymes to break down plastic clothing waste (PET) into reusable chemicals, instead of just melting it down like traditional recycling. This matters because it could reduce the plastic waste and microplastic pollution created by fast fashion, offering a cleaner path to reuse materials rather than sending them to landfills or oceans.
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