0 votes
22 views
ago in Chemical synthesis by (139k points)
What is the optimum reaction condition (temperature, pressure, and catalyst) required for the synthesis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol as starting materials?

1 Answer

0 votes
ago by (139k points)
The optimum reaction conditions for the synthesis of polyethylene terephthalate  PET  using terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol as starting materials are as follows:1. Temperature: The reaction typically occurs in two stages. In the first stage, esterification takes place at temperatures between 220-260C. In the second stage, polycondensation occurs at temperatures between 270-290C under vacuum.2. Pressure: The first stage of the reaction  esterification  is carried out at atmospheric pressure. In the second stage  polycondensation , the pressure is reduced to a vacuum  around 0.1-1.0 mbar  to facilitate the removal of byproducts and to drive the reaction to completion.3. Catalyst: Common catalysts used for the synthesis of PET include antimony trioxide  Sb2O3 , titanium-based catalysts  e.g., titanium isopropoxide , and germanium-based catalysts  e.g., germanium dioxide . Antimony trioxide is the most widely used catalyst, typically added in concentrations of 100-300 ppm.It is important to note that the specific conditions may vary depending on the desired properties of the final PET product and the specific process used for synthesis.

Related questions

Welcome to Sarvan Science Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...