Thermal degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and the estimation of volatile degradation products

Volatile products of poly(ethylene terephthalate) thermal degradation in nitrogen atmosphere

“…These conditions result in degradation reactions, which may lead to changing of polymer properties (e.g., reduction of molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity, discoloration) and the emission of volatile substances. Studies [11][12][13][14][15] have shown that at these temperatures acetaldehyde and formaldehyde are the main substances evolved from PET. Thermal degradation of PET at higher temperatures was studied by several authors, mostly by means of pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC) 16 -19 or direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry (Py-MS).…”

A study of thermal decomposition and combustion products of disposable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic using high resolution fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry and gas chromatography mass spectrometry

“…Of this volume, a mere 7% [1][2][3] is recycled and the remainder is deposited or incinerated [4]. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, systematic name poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyloxycarbonyl-1,4-phenylenecarbonyl)) is a highly thermally stable polymer with many uses, most frequently as packaging material for beverages [5] in the form of the well known PET bottles. The ideal way of dealing with PET waste is recycling.…”

A preliminary Ames fluctuation assay assessment of the genotoxicity of drinking water that has been solar disinfected in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles

“…Previous studies explored the effect of consumer use, long-term storage and storage conditions on the migration of compounds from PET into water and food (Nawrocki et al 2002;Monturi et al 2007;Morrison et al 2008). The thermal degradation products of PET identified include: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, CO 2 and water (Villian et al 1994;Nawrocki et al 2002;Mutsuga et al 2006) and plasticisers such as di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate, phthalic acid, dimethyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate (Monturi et al 2007). Analytical methods such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) proved invaluable in identifying and quantifying these compounds.…”