(235e) A CO2 Utilization Approach Towards the Synthesis of Terephthalic Acid

Terephthalic acid (TPA) is the monomer used in the large polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics market (>30 MT/yr demand) and is currently made industrially by paraxylene oxidation (high-temperature, oxygen-based AMOCO process). Alternatively, TPA can be made from other precursors by using CO₂. The environmental concerns of CO₂ release into the atmosphere from traditional energy sources have led to significant interest in capturing and utilizing CO₂ as a chemical feed stock. RTI has developed a homogeneously catalyzed reaction to make TPA at low temperature (70°C) and high yield (>90%) with a simplified purification protocol. We are currently exploring new feed stocks, such as renewable biomass, to produce TPA at temperatures and pressures that are competitive with the AMOCO oxidation process, offering a CO₂–utilizing alternative to high-demand PET plastics in which CO₂ is sequestered long term in commonly known everyday products.