Once again we can boast of another publication by our Circle secretary - Mateusz Zygadło, of which he is a co-author. This time the topic was the synthesis of bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate), where the process itself was catalyzed by tin-based catalysts.
"As in the previous publication (https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176385), we focused on the problem of plastic pollution, with a particular focus on waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET), of which 35 million tonnes were produced in 2020 alone. In our work we tested 5 organotin catalysts in the reaction of PET transetrification with 2-ethylhexanol. The resulting compound bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DOTP) was then used as a plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). We were able to select the most efficient of the tested catalysts, obtaining a high reaction efficiency. The DOTP samples synthesized in a large laboratory bag were compared for plasticizing properties with commercially produced DOTP. On the basis of these analyses, marginal differences between samples were found." - says Mateusz
The new publication of Mateusz can be found at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2023.110592
Congratulations on the publication and wish you more scientific achievements!
