Micellization and Adsorption Parameters of Nonionic Polymeric Surfactants from Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Waste

Poly (ethylene terephthalate), PET, waste was recycled to oligomers in the presence of triethanolamine and manganese acetate as a catalyst. The produced oligomers were reacted with stearic acid and polyethylene glycol having different molecular weights 400, 1000, and 4000 to produce nonionic polymeric surfactants having different hydrophile‐hydrophobe balances (HLB). The surface tension, critical micelle concentration (CMC) and surface activities were determined at different temperatures. Surface parameters such as, surface excess concentration Γ_max, the area per molecule at interface A_min and the effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π_CMC) were determined from the adsorption isotherms of the prepared surfactants. Some thermodynamic data for the adsorption process are calculated and discussed.

Keywords:

• PET glycolysis
• thermodynamic parameters
• surface activity
• adsorption
• recycling