If you want to obtain PET with a quality equal to that of virgin material, no matter how degraded the incoming waste is, a chemical PET recycling technology breaks the polymer down at the molecular level and rebuilds it. The process takes PET bottle flakes, depolymerizes them through glycolysis, and, through esterification and polycondensation, delivers PET equivalent to virgin, suitable for sheet, fiber, or pellets.
Unlike mechanical recycling, a chemical PET recycling line is not limited by the drop in viscosity and the impurities of the recycled material: depolymerization brings the PET back to its basic building blocks, and the final product practically starts "from scratch." The flexible capacity reaches up to 8 t/h. See where this technology fits in the full range of PET recycling equipment.
Key Advantages of R-PET Chemical Recycling Technology
• Quality equal to virgin PET, a chemical PET recycling installation delivers material with properties comparable to those of virgin PET, eligible for demanding applications.
• Depolymerization at low viscosity, breaking the material down at reduced viscosity makes removing impurities much easier, an advantage mechanical recycling does not have.
• Glycolysis with MEG, the reaction with monoethylene glycol breaks the PET down into BHET, the intermediate from which the clean polymer is then rebuilt.
• Mixed feedstock, the process accepts up to 50% PET bottle flakes and 50% virgin PET, so you can flexibly dose depending on availability and the required quality.
• Scalable capacity, a chemical PET recycling line delivers 1–4 t/h, and through combination it reaches a total capacity of 2–8 t/h.
• Three final products, the same flow can directly feed sheet production, polyester fiber spinning, or pelletizing into PET chips.
• Integration as a secondary flow, the depolymerized flakes enter as a secondary molten flow into the prepolymer of the prepolycondensation process, without a fully separate line.
• Real closed loop, by bringing PET back to virgin quality, chemical recycling supports a genuine circular economy, not just degrading reuse.
Technical Specifications, Chemical PET Recycling
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Process type | Chemical PET recycling through glycolysis and depolymerization (Replus™ process) |
| Decomposition reaction | Glycolysis with MEG → BHET (intermediate) |
| Polymer reconstruction | Esterification → prepolycondensation → polycondensation |
| Feedstock | PET bottle flakes, filtered and viscosity-adjusted |
| Accepted mix | Up to 50% PET flakes + 50% virgin PET |
| Finished product | Virgin-equivalent PET: sheet, polyester fiber, PET chips |
| Capacity per line | 1–4 t/h |
| Total capacity | 2–8 t/h (flexible, through combination) |
| Base reagents | TPA (terephthalic acid) and MEG (monoethylene glycol) |
Applications and Industries for PET Depolymerization
A chemical PET recycling installation serves producers who need the highest-quality recycled material, where mechanical recycling is not enough. The resulting virgin-equivalent PET goes directly into food-grade sheet production, polyester fiber spinning, or chip pelletizing for preforms. For a processor, this means access to premium markets, including food packaging with strict purity requirements.
The material obtained through chemical PET recycling is equivalent to virgin PET, so it is suitable for food contact; in the European Union, recycled plastic material intended for food contact is governed by Regulation (EU) 2022/1616.
Beyond packaging, the ability to break down and rebuild the polymer makes depolymerization the solution for heavily colored, contaminated, or degraded PET waste, which mechanical recycling would turn only into low-value goods. For a processor who sells chips or fiber, a chemical PET recycling line raises the material to virgin level and, implicitly, to virgin price, completely changing the economics of the waste flow.
As European regulations require an ever-greater recycled content in packaging, and mechanical recycling runs into purity limits, demand for virgin-quality material obtained from waste is rising rapidly. The big brands in beverages and food look for suppliers able to consistently ensure this quality, and an installation that rebuilds the polymer from scratch positions you exactly in this premium segment, with margins significantly better than selling flakes or mechanical pellets.
Compatible Materials
The chemical PET recycling process starts from PET bottle flakes, which are first filtered and viscosity-adjusted before being fed into the flow. The great strength of the method is its tolerance for materials that mechanical recycling rejects: depolymerization at low viscosity allows impurities to be removed even from difficult waste.
| Accepted feedstock | Notes |
|---|---|
| PET bottle flakes | The main source, filtered and viscosity-adjusted |
| Virgin PET (up to 50%) | Dosed in the mix, depending on the required quality |
| Colored or contaminated PET | Recoverable through depolymerization, hard to process mechanically |
| Low-viscosity PET | Brought back to virgin quality through polymer reconstruction |
| TPA and MEG | The reagents that enter the esterification and glycolysis reactions |
How It Works
The flow on a chemical PET recycling installation combines chemical decomposition with polymer reconstruction:
1. The PET bottle flakes are filtered and their intrinsic viscosity is adjusted, so they enter the process in a controlled way.
2. The reaction paste is prepared from TPA and MEG, the chemical basis of the process.
3. Through glycolysis with MEG, the PET is depolymerized and broken down into BHET, the key intermediate.
4. Depolymerization takes place at low viscosity, which makes removing impurities much easier.
5. The depolymerized flakes are fed as a secondary molten flow into the prepolymer of the prepolycondensation.
6. Through esterification and polycondensation, the polymer is rebuilt, resulting in virgin-equivalent PET, directed toward sheet, fiber, or chips.
Because the material is brought back to its basic building blocks, the quality of the final product does not depend on how degraded the waste was. A continuously monitored chemical PET recycling line maintains consistent polymer quality and quickly brings new operators to stable results, a real advantage in plants with staff turnover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What quality does the PET obtained through chemical PET recycling have?
The resulting material has a quality comparable to that of virgin PET, because the polymer is broken down at the molecular level and rebuilt from clean intermediates. This makes it suitable for demanding applications, including food packaging. Unlike mechanical recycling, where quality drops with each cycle, a chemical PET recycling installation produces a material that does not carry the "history" of previous degradations.
How does it differ from mechanical recycling?
Mechanical recycling only shreds, washes, and remelts the material, so it is limited by the falling viscosity and by impurities. Chemical PET recycling, in contrast, depolymerizes the PET through glycolysis and rebuilds it, removing impurities at low viscosity. The result is a material equivalent to virgin, regardless of the condition of the incoming waste.
What capacities are available?
One line produces between 1 and 4 t/h, and by combining lines you reach a total capacity of 2 to 8 t/h. The process accepts a flexible mix of up to 50% PET bottle flakes and 50% virgin PET, so you can adjust the recipe according to the available material and the targeted final quality.
Is the delivered equipment new?
Yes. We deliver new, unused equipment, built to order, not refurbished units. The construction uses components from established suppliers, with CE marking where applicable, and every unit undergoes a complete inspection before shipping. You receive the technical documentation and operating manuals in your language, for a commissioning without surprises and predictable long-term operation.
What makes URSTAG a premium brand?
European design, top-tier components and experience. Every machine is designed by our engineering teams in Europe and built from components by industry leaders such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli. The result is reliable, energy-efficient and durable equipment, backed by over 15 years of experience and by delivery, installation, training and service included.
How long does installation and commissioning take?
Transport, commissioning, and operator training are included and carried out by a local team, in your language. Before shipping, the installation undergoes a free inspection, so your unit becomes operational quickly, with no hidden installation costs.
Why URSTAG?
URSTAG is a premium brand of recycling equipment, with over 15 years of experience. You don't just get a machine, you get a solution engineered by specialists, built from top-tier components and backed by a team that supports you from design through commissioning.
• European engineering, every machine and every complete line is designed by our engineering teams in Europe, with a focus on reliability, safety and energy efficiency.
• Premium components, we build on motors and automation from industry leaders: Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli.
• Over 15 years of experience, we know how materials and machines behave in real-world operation, and we configure each solution for your flow and volume.
• New equipment, configured for you, we supply new units, made to order for your application, with complete technical documentation.
• Delivery, installation and training included, we handle transport, commissioning and operator training, with support throughout the equipment's life.
As a premium brand, URSTAG relies on European engineering, top-tier components and experience. You choose a partner that supports your production long term, with equipment built to run reliably in demanding industrial environments.
