Production of Liquid Polyester Polyol through the Glycolysis for Low Molecular Degradation of Waste Poly (1,4-Cyclohexylene Dimethylene Terephthalate)

Abstract

The demand for poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) (PCT), a polyester with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties owing to the ring structure, is growing, necessitating advancing recycling technologies. However, challenges including preventing of increasing molecular weight and viscosity in the diol removal and concentration process, arise post-depolymerization during the chemical recycling of PCT. This study presents an innovative method to prepare liquid dihydroxyl group-terminated oligomers directly from PCT depolymerization using the metal chelate ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Initially, PCT