Polyethylene terephthalate production from a carbon neutral resource

Abstract

Renewable chemicals produced from sustainable sources, such as lignocellulosic biomass, are gaining significance as viable alternatives for chemicals conventionally produced from fossil fuels. This shift aims to improve the sustainability of the chemical and petrochemical industries. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), widely used in our daily lives, is typically produced by co-polymerising ethylene glycol (EG) with dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) or terephthalic acid (TPA). This review compares the catalytic production of PET co-monomers using biomass feedstock with fossil-fuel-based production processes. The biomass-based pathways for EG, DMT, and TPA are not as competitive as conventional fossil-fuel-based routes owing to their high feedstock prices. Although commercial processes for the direct conversion of biomass into EG, DMT, and TPA are not yet available, promising catalytic routes are emerging. Continued technological advancements in the renewable production of PET monomers are expected to render bio-based PET economically feasible soon.