Optimising the Depolymerisation of PET Fleece Microplastics Through Microwave Irradiation

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the world’s most used plastics. Amenable to both mechanical and chemical recycling processes, PET also commonly recycled. Chemical processes include glycolysis, which produces bis(2-hydroxyethyl) (BHET); this then re-polymerised form new PET. One novel method for glycolysis involves microwave irradiation water bottles in presence a catalyst and, notably, absorber. The research presented here investigates optimisation fleeces. Samples were prepared using constant amounts solvent, fleece, conditions chosen be varied optimised loading, time, reaction temperature. Multiple variations these underwent course experimentation analysed through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determine their composition. samples that produced highest yield BHET determined optimal. These found loading 2 mg, an time 3 minutes, temperature 250°C. It has recently been observed substantial portion microplastic pollution bodies (which greatly impacts environment) can attributed fleece microfibres, are composed Through capture depolymerisation microfibres before release, could play important role reduction amount microfibre polluting oceans future.