Pollution by PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles is a major threat to the localized environment almost throughout the world.
a) Are there alternatives to these PET bottles?
b) Is the PET scrap soluble in any solvents?
c) Is anyone an expert in this field of PET bottles and their chemistry?
d) Is it possible to use this PET as a raw material for the production of other chemicals (polymers), as fuels etc?
e) Is there scope for change in the characteristics of the PET bottle so that something can be thought to minimize the Impact of these PET bottles being used for various appliances?
When I drank RO water stored for a week in the same PET bottle (intentionally), it took a couple of days to recover. A feeling of gastric irritation, giddiness and a hatred for water was developed.
What biochemistry could have happened then?
PET is soluble in solvents like Napthalene, phenyl ether, nitrobenzene, DMSO, benzyl alcohol etc..
PET per se is very benign doesn't interact with water.. but during PET bottle manufacture, aldehydes are released which produce that 'off-taste' in bottled water..
PET is the most recycled polymer especially in west and OECD countries..though not 100% of all PET bottles are recycled... but when compared to other polymeric wastes PET recycling is very easy & effective.
Thanks for nice reply Dr Sridhar, Hooshyar and Johan J... for your replies.
Ultimately These PET bottles must be a good source for some other product or fuel that can run an engine. I have referred and found some using it like pots to grow plants... So some set of applicaitons of these PET based materials must be reviewd and propagated among the rural poor for better implementation of the inventions.
PET is easy to digest with a trace of acid and an alcohol. Through a transesterification process it is digested into things like dimethyl terephthalate. To use a low boiling point alcohol like methanol you will need to autoclave the mixture.
A mixture of phenol and trichloroethane is a good solvent for PET. (NIranjan Karak)
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