Main > POLYMERS > Poly(Ester) > Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) > Org.: IE. U. (ReCycling To PHA) > Process Description
Pyrolize PET by heating it to 450 °C under low-oxygen conditions to produce solid, liquid, and gaseous fractions. The liquid and gaseous fractions can be burned to produce electricity, whereas the solid fraction (72% by weight) is terep hthalic acid that can be used as a feedstock for the bacterial production of PHAs. Certain bacteria are known to naturally synthesize PHAs as a means of energy storage, and they have been genetically engineered to produce PHAs commercially. The researchers screened bacteria in the soil surrounding a PET production facility and demonstrated that three Pseudomonas strains they found can produce PHAs from the terephthalic acid pyrolysis fraction.
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