Catalytic upgrading of PET to acid by engineering bimetallic AuCu/CNT catalyst.

BACKGROUND: Recycling waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic can prolong its life cycle, reduce the consumption of non‐renewable resources, prevent plastic pollution and also protect the ecological environment. Traditional chemical recycling of waste PET plastic can depolymerize PET into terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). RESULTS: A strategy was proposed to directly depolymerize PET into TPA and acid, which shows significantly higher values than conventional EG. This is achieved over a carbon nanotube (CNT)‐supported AuCu catalyst (AuCu/CNT) prepared using an evaporative impregnation method. Comprehensive analyses of the catalyst were conducted using X‐ray diffraction, N2 adsorption/desorption, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H2‐temperature=programmed reduction, and so on. It was found that Cu species in the AuCu/CNT catalyst mainly existed in the form of CuO, forming new reaction adsorption sites and providing active AuCu alloy sites, thereby improving the catalytic performance of AuCu/CNT. This results in simultaneously superior acid selectivity and EG conversion over AuCu/CNT compared with Au/CNT and Cu/CNT. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the hydrolysis of PET is highly significant in preparing value‐added products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]