IBM joins PET recycling game
26/03/2019
Now at a pilot stage, VolCat (volatile catalyst) is part of a wider project for the group called 5 in 5, which aims to tackle food shortages and waste problems over the next five years.
VolCat begins by heating PET and ethylene glycol in a reactor with the catalyst. After depolymerization, the catalyst is recovered by distillation from the reactor using the heat of reaction. The solution is filtered, purified and cooled, and the solid monomer product is recovered by filtration.
The recovered liquid, along with the catalyst, is then reintroduced into the depolymerization reactor.
The researchers say the system could be used at recycling and polyester manufacturing plants within five years.
IBM estimates more than 272 million metric tons of plastic is produced each year, with one quarter of that made up of PET.
Share this story:
