Avinash B Lende

National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Title: Hydrogenation of Polyethylene Terephthalate to Environmentally Friendly Polyester by the Heterogenous Catalyst

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Biography

Avinash B. Lende is currently working with a company. He completed his PhD from Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan under the supervision of Prof. Chung-Sung Tan. He holds two master’s degrees in organic chemistry and chemical engineering. Dr. Avinash has more than ten years of research experience and has been working on the development of new heterogeneous catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of aromatic ring. To this effect, he has also published several international research articles of high importance regarding the same. His research focused on the greener synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts and sustainable aspects of chemical reaction engineering.

Abstract

This study demonstrates the direct hydrogenation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluro-2-propanol (HFIP) to environmentally friendly polyester polyethylene-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate (PECHD) using a Vulcan XC-72 supported Rh-Pt bimetallic catalyst synthesized via a polyol method. The hydrogenation of PET was promoted by RhOx species present on the catalyst support surface which was generated using the polyol synthesis method. As compared to the monometallic Rh catalyst, the Rh-Pt bimetallic catalyst was found to be superior for hydrogenation of PET. This superiority was attributed to the strong aromatic ring adsorption ability of Rh working in synergy with an increased H2 spillover by Pt. At a H2 pressure of 1000 psi and 50 oC for 60 min, complete hydrogenation of PET to PECHD was achieved over the Rh-Pt bimetallic catalyst possessing theoretical Rh and Pt metal loadings of 2.5 wt% each. PECHD was found to be recovered to a very high extent using the compressed CO2 anti-solvent technique after hydrogenation of PET.