U.S. Launches Plastic PET Container Recycling Technology

A U.S. company uses methanol decomposition technology to recycle PET plastic containers. Its treatment method is to be recycled first.

Plastic bottles are crushed into polyester chips as recycled raw materials. This raw material is treated with methanol and then heat-treated to decompose it into the components of the polyester, dimethyl phthalate and ethylene glycol. The dimethyl terephthalate is then placed in a centrifuge for a long period of time so that the impurities therein are separated. Ethylene glycol is placed in a large tank and boiled to remove impurities. The added methanol can be recovered.

Dimethyl citrate, which was completely purified, was then transported to the bottle-making plant and it was once again immersed in ethylene glycol to finally synthesize new PET plastic. Coca-Cola Company of the United States has adopted containers containing this recycled plastic composition.