Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.

Nobuyuki Funakoshi

Jinichi Yazaki

Kozaburo Sakano

Kazuho Tanaka

This invention provides a process a process for recovering terephthalic acid from pulverized products of spent polyethylene terephthalate. This process comprises (1) a decomposition reaction step where the pulverized products of spent polyethylene terephthalate are continuously subjected to decomposition reaction in ethylene glycol in the presence of alkali, which is equimolar or excessmolar relative to the polyethylene terephthalate, so that salt of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol can be continuously obtained; (2) a solid-liquid separation, dissolution, impurities-removing step where the ethylene glycol is separated from decomposition reaction slurry of salt of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, and the solid salt of terephthalic acid is dissolved into water, while insoluble impurities are removed; (3) a neutralization, crystallization step, where solution of said salt of terephthalic acid is neutralized with acid so that terephthalic acid can be crystallized; (4) a solid-liquid separation, washing stop where slurry of terephthalic acid crystals is subjected to solid-liquid separation so that the terephthalic acid crystals can be obtained and washed; and (5) a drying, pulverization step where the washed terephthalic acid crystals are dried and pulverized.

Process for recovering terephthalic acid from pulverized product of spent polyethylene terephthalate and system for use in such process

This invention provides a process a process for recovering terephthalic acid from pulverized products of spent polyethylene terephthalate. This process comprises (1) a decomposition reaction step where the pulverized products of spent polyethylene terephthalate are continuously subjected to decomposition reaction in ethylene glycol in the presence of alkali, which is equimolar or excessmolar relative to the polyethylene terephthalate, so that salt of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol can be continuously obtained; (2) a solid-liquid separation, dissolution, impurities-removing step where the ethylene glycol is separated from decomposition reaction slurry of salt of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, and the solid salt of terephthalic acid is dissolved into water, while insoluble impurities are removed; (3) a neutralization, crystallization step, where solution of said salt of terephthalic acid is neutralized with acid so that terephthalic acid can be crystallized; (4) a solid-liquid separation, washing step where slurry of terephthalic acid crystals is subjected to solid-liquid separation so that the terephthalic acid crystals can be obtained and washed; and (5) a drying, pulverization step where the washed terephthalic acid crystals are dried and pulverized.

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Chuo-ku, Japan

Nobuyuki Funakoshi