Rapid Catalytic Recycling of Poly(ethylene terephthalate): Minimal Hydroxide, Minimal Biomass‐Derived Recyclable Cosolvent

The rapid hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste using sodium hydroxide, a phase transfer catalyst and furfuryl alcohol is demonstrated in 10 min at 98.5 °C. The cosolvent is biodegradable, available from biomass-based sources and outperforms a range of commonly used protic and polar aprotic cosolvents. Such is the competence of the cosolvent for this purpose that waste is minimized-for the first time minimal hydroxide (2.1 eq.) is employed and the solvent volume is limited to just 3 mL g-1 PET (of which only 20% by weight is the organic component). It is found that the medium is compatible with phase transfer catalysis and a promoter incorporating aromatic units is superior (at 1 mol% loading) to previously optimal dimethyldialkylammonium halides. The medium can be recycled and reused after distillation at <100 °C, and furfuryl alcohol is also shown to serve as a cosolvent par excellence for the catalytic hydrolysis of poly(bis-phenol A carbonate) waste from compact disks under literature conditions.