Production of rubber plasticizers based on waste PET: Techno-economical aspect

Abstract

Production of rubber plasticizers, based on waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and economic effectiveness of developed technologies are presented and discussed. Waste PET glycolyzates, named diisononyl terephthalate(DINTP), didecyl terephthalate (DDTP), dibenzyl terephthalate(DBTP) and diglyceryl terephthalate(DGTP), were obtained by catalytic depolymerization of PET with isononyl alcohol, decyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol and glycerol. The structural analysis of the synthesized plasticizers was done using elemental, FTIR and NMR spectral analysis. Physical-mechanical properties of the rubber products composed of 100 phr of 28 % nitrile butadiene caoutchouc (NBR) and 20.7 phr of plasticizer were investigated. Influence of the synthesized plasticizers on Shore hardness, breaking strength and elongation at break was investigated. Obtained results were compared with ones obtained for commercial plasticizer dioctyl phthatale (DOP). Evaluation of economic potential of new technology for plasticizers production, i.e. results of techno-economic analysis, was presented. Benefits of the presented technology was based on the use of waste PET which is related to both environmental protection and profitability aspects.