PET Conversion to Anti-Stripping Compounds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bituminous pavements face stripping issues due to separation of bitumen from aggregate surfaces under water exposure, and existing anti-stripping chemicals often rely on costly and hazardous catalysts, with no effective solutions derived from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers.

Innovation Solution

A green chemistry approach converts PET polymers into anti-stripping compounds through aminolysis with polyamines at low temperatures without catalysts, producing compounds that enhance bitumen-aggregate adhesion and offer a safe, efficient disposal method for waste PET.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional anti-stripping chemicals are used, then bitumen-aggregate adhesion is improved, but costly and hazardous catalysts are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebitumen-aggregate adhesionVSAvoidhazardous catalysts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts waste PET plastic, which is an environmental hazard and pollution source, into beneficial anti-stripping compounds through chemical recycling. This transforms a harmful waste material into a useful additive that improves bitumen-aggregate adhesion without requiring hazardous catalysts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses inexpensive waste PET material instead of costly conventional anti-stripping chemicals. The waste PET is converted into effective anti-stripping compounds through chemical recycling processes, providing a cost-effective alternative that eliminates the need for expensive and hazardous catalysts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If PET polymers are disposed of through conventional methods, then disposal is achieved, but environmental pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisposal methodVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts harmful waste PET plastic into beneficial anti-stripping compounds for road construction. Through chemical recycling processes including depolymerization and repolymerization, the waste material is transformed into value-added products that improve pavement performance while reducing environmental pollution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention recovers valuable materials from discarded PET waste through chemical recycling. The process involves breaking down PET into monomers or oligomers and reprocessing them into useful anti-stripping compounds, thereby recovering resources that would otherwise be discarded as pollution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If chemical recycling of PET is performed, then value-added products are produced, but complex processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversion efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The chemical recycling process is divided into distinct sequential stages: depolymerization of PET into monomers or oligomers, purification of the breakdown products, and repolymerization or chemical modification to produce anti-stripping compounds. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently while maintaining overall process efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses intermediate products such as terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, or oligomers as mediators in the conversion process. These intermediates serve as bridging substances that facilitate the transformation from waste PET to useful anti-stripping compounds, enabling controlled and efficient chemical recycling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The process achieves 100% conversion efficiency with no effluent production, reducing the need for toxic catalysts and providing high anti-stripping performance in bituminous concrete, effectively extending pavement life and addressing environmental pollution from waste PET.

Implementation Method 1

A green chemistry approach converts PET polymers into anti-stripping compounds through aminolysis with polyamines at low temperatures without catalysts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAminolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP2812386B1An environment friendly method for disposal of waste plastics through conversion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers to Anti-stripping compounds

Publication Date: 2019.04.24 INDIAN OIL CORP LTD

AI summary

A method for conversion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers to anti-stripping compounds for bitumen through a green chemistry approach is disclosed. The present invention also provides a method for safe and environment friendly large scale disposal of used PET polymer. The PET polymer is either recycled or virgin and is used as synthon. It is reacted with a polyamine, preferably tetraethylene pentamine in xylene solution, when the polyamine undergoes aminolysis reaction with PET without any catalyst and at a relatively low temperature in the range of 110 °C to 160 ° C. The process achieves the maximum conversion efficiency of 100% into diamino diamido mixture of compounds and produces no effluent. A method for producing a bituminous concrete having high anti-stripping properties is also disclosed.