Poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid): A recoverable and reusable catalyst for acid hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate

Poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSSA) was used as a recoverable acid catalyst for the hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). The effect of catalyst concentration, time, and temperature on the depolymerization of PET and yield of TPA were determined with PSSA and H2SO4. The PSSA system exhibited faster hydrolysis kinetics than H2SO4 with a shorter induction period than those often...