Start with a word equation
PET + methanol -> ethylene glycol + dimethyl phthalate
Then convert to formulae
PET + CH3OH -> HOCH2CH2OH + CH3OCOPhCOOCH3
and I would put H+ over the arrow to show it is a catalyst
I can't draw a structure for PET or dimethyl phthalate here
For the structure of dimethyl phthalate see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethyl_phthalate
The polymer (PET) structure is here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalate
Recycling of PET soft drink bottles involves heating with methanol and an acid catalyst to liberate ethylene glycol and dimethylterphthalate (methyl ester of pthalic acid). These can then be used as monomers to make new PET products. Write an equation for this recycling reaction.
1 answer