Vitasek_2012_J.Polym.Environ_20_618

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) from used colorless beverage bottles was solvolyzed by ethane-1,2-diol. Hydroxyl end-groups present in the mixture of polyols formed were used to initiate the polymerization of E-caprolactone (CLO) at 190 C. Polycondensation (190 CC) of the reaction mixture containing an equilibrium amount of lactone corresponding to the reaction temperature yield an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester. A variety of copolyesters containing 20-60 mol. % CLO structural units was prepared. The microstructure of their macromolecules was analyzed using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Copolyesters were characterized by thermal analysis and tensile tests and their biodegradation potential was checked by the composting test.