Yang R.-XBieh Y.-TChen C.HHsu C.-YKato YYamamoto HTsung C.-KWu K.C.-W.KEVIN CHIA-WEN WU2021-09-022021-09-02202121680485https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85106502006&doi=10.1021%2facssuschemeng.0c08012&partnerID=40&md5=be68e49f4c17cad36c13b30e3114482bhttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/581570Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been extensively used for the fabrication of various packaging materials, creating million tons of waste per year. Degrading and recycling PET waste has been identified as a prominent issue. Herein, we demonstrate an effective process to chemically convert PET to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) through the use of metal azolate framework-6 (MAF-6) as a catalyst in the presence of ethylene glycol. MAFs are a subclass of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with MAF-6 comprised of the metal ion Zn2+ and the organic ligand 2-ethylimidazole. We have optimized the reaction temperature, reaction time, and catalyst amount to achieve up to a 92.4% conversion of PET and an 81.7% yield of BHET at 180 °C for 4 h. MAF-6 was easily recovered and reused for at least five times. We have also hypothesized a mechanism for the high conversion and yield of the PET glycolysis reaction catalyzed by MAF-6. The use of MAF-6 as a catalyst opens a new route for the postconsumer recycling of PET with remarkable practicality. ? 2021 American Chemical Society.Aliphatic compounds; Catalysts; Ethylene; Ethylene glycol; Metal ions; Metal-Organic Frameworks; Metals; Organometallics; Packaging materials; Plastic recycling; Polyethylene terephthalates; Zinc; Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate; High conversions; Metalorganic frameworks (MOFs); Organic ligands; Polyethylene terephthalates (PET); Post-consumer; Reaction catalyzed; Reaction temperature; Plastic bottles[SDGs]SDG12Aliphatic compounds; Catalysts; Ethylene; Ethylene glycol; Metal ions; Metal-Organic Frameworks; Metals; Organometallics; Packaging materials; Plastic recycling; Polyethylene terephthalates; Zinc; Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate; High conversions; Metalorganic frameworks (MOFs); Organic ligands; Polyethylene terephthalates (PET); Post-consumer; Reaction catalyzed; Reaction temperature; Plastic bottlesjournal article10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c08012