Microwave Technology for Recycling of Waste PET Bottles

New technology has developed ways to solve problems of accumulation of waste PET bottles. This recycling technology uses microwave energy for PET depolymerization and it is characterized by low energy consumption and the high purity of products (terephthalic acid, monoethylene glycol) the so-called “polymer grade” quality. It was tested on a pilot plant with a capacity of 1–10 kg/h PET bottles with the MW reactor of 0.12-1.0 m3. This new technology is protected by patent documents in Czech Republic (CZ299908) and five other countries (PCT/EP/2008/058917), namely, Germany, Italy, France, UK and China. The technology was developed by the Czech Center of Microwave Technology at ICPF. Recently, the patent was sold to the Polish company NRT Polska Sp. Z.o.o.