A method for enabling the recycling of a polyester waste stream and a system for applying the method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for recycling a waste polyester stream by depolymerizing the polyester present in the waste stream to convert it into a reactive oligomeric ester. The process comprises supplying the polyester in liquid form to a reactor and feeding the reactor with an alcohol to subject the polyester to alcoholysis to depolymerize it, while simultaneously adding water and a carboxylic acid to form the reactive oligomeric ester. The invention also relates to a system for utilizing this process.