Conclusions
• The scope of this project is to make a process design, technical and economical feasibility
study for the production of polyethylene terephthalate by direct esterification of terephthalic
acid and ethylene glycol using membrane reactor technology to remove the esterification byproduct,
which is water.
• It is decided to follow a hierarchical approach to conceptual design by Douglas (1988) [5] and
the guidelines given by Van den Berg (2000) in the process design part of this project.
• It is decided to use pervaporation membrane reactor that will remove water more efficiently by
which it might be possible to reduce the reaction time leading to a shorter batch time and/or a
smaller process.
• The design basis for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is discussed.
• Description of the technical preparation of the main raw materials required to produce
polyethylene terephthalate and their specifications is discussed.
• Chemical fundamentals of PET production by TPA and EG are discussed including,
esterification process, polycondensation process, reaction information, and the solubility data
of TPA in EG and BHET.
• The rate of dissolution of TPA is fast. The rate determination step, therefore, is not the
dissolution of TPA, but the reaction of TPA.