Process for Manufacturing BHET from a Polyester Feedstock

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing BHET (bis(2hydroxyethyl) benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate) from a polyester feedstock comprising PET (polyethylene terephthalate), comprising the steps of (1) providing reaction mixture 1 comprising polyester feedstock comprising PET, potassium glycoxide (potassium 2-hydroxyethoxide), and monoethylene glycol (ethan-1,2-diol); (2) at least partially depolymerizing PET components of the polyester feedstock in reaction mixture 1, thus forming reaction mixture 2 comprising monoethylene glycol and BHET; and (3) contacting reaction mixture 2 with an amount of activated carbon. The present invention, further, relates to a process wherein BHET is at least partially isolated from reaction mixture 2 and repolymerized to PET. The process of the present invention yields product materials with a particularly low level of yellow discoloration.