Breathing New Life into PET

What does PET stand for?

• Polyethylene Terephthalate

• Polyethylene Tetraoxide

• Plastic Environmental Toxin

• Polymer Enzyme Treatment

Which common items are made from PET?

• Glass bottles and ceramics

• Plastic bottles, food packaging, polyester fiber

• Wood furniture

• Aluminum cans

Why is PET difficult to recycle using traditional methods?

• It melts too easily

• It contains toxic chemicals

• Its long polymer chains are hard to break down

• It dissolves in water

What is the main innovation in Northwestern University’s recycling method?

• Using UV light to melt PET

• Using air and moisture with a molybdenum catalyst to break down PET

• Freezing PET to shatter it

• Burning PET at high temperatures

What valuable product does the Northwestern method recover from PET waste?

• Terephthalic acid (TPA)

• Ethanol

• Carbon dioxide

• Fiberglass

Which catalyst is used in Northwestern’s new PET recycling method?

• Iron (Fe)

• Copper (Cu)

• Molybdenum (Mo)

• Zinc (Zn)

One key advantage of the new method is that it is environmentally friendly. True or False?

• False

• True

How can the recovered TPA be used?

• To make paper

• To create new PET or higher-value materials

• As fertilizer

• To generate electricity