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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 H 2 SO 4. The PSSA system exhibited faster hydrolysis kinetics than H 2 SO 4 with a shorter induction period than those often observed for acid hydrolysis of PET. The activation energies for the hydrolysis of PET were 24.8 kJ mol−1 and 29.1 kJ mol−1 for 2 M PSSA and 2 M H 2 SO 4 , respectively. The hydrophobic backbone of PSSA improves surface wetting of the catalyst solution at the PET interface, resulting in a higher localized concentration of protons. Contact angle measurements indicated better surface wetting of PET films by the aqueous solutions of PSSA than H 2 SO 4 at equal concentrations. Additionally, the reutilization and titration results indicated that PSSA maintained the activity after reuse for five reaction cycles. [Display omitted] • A recoverable, reusable catalyst, poly (4-styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA) was used as acid hydrolysis of PET. • The PSSA exhibited higher activity for hydrolysis of PET and lower activity for ethyl acetate hydrolysis than the H 2 SO 4. • The increased activity of PSSA relative to H 2 SO 4 was attributed to the adsorption affinity for PET surfaces. • The PSSA was recoverable and exhibited no loss in activity following five repeat cycles for PET hydrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]