DMT · EG · Chemical recycling · Polyester industry · ISCC PLUS · ISO 14067 · Scope 3 · CBAM
Industry glossary for polyester procurement, process engineers, ESG / compliance teams. Covers chemical identifiers, process technology, certification, carbon management, process safety, product grades.
DMT · CAS 120-61-6 · p-Phthalic acid dimethyl ester
Key polyester-grade aromatic monomer, CAS 120-61-6, used in PBT / PETG / PCTG / PET resin synthesis.
DMT molecular formula C10H10O4, MW 194.18 g/mol, white crystalline solid at room temperature. Polyester grade requires purity ≥99.9%, color ≤5 APHA. ResourceCycle's chemical methanolysis converts waste PET directly to polyester-grade DMT molecularly equivalent to virgin petrochemical product.
MEG · Monoethylene Glycol · CAS 107-21-1 · 1,2-Ethanediol
Core diol monomer for PET and polyester fiber, CAS 107-21-1; also automotive antifreeze and UPR.
Ethylene Glycol formula C2H6O2, BP 197.3 °C, colorless viscous liquid. Polyester grade requires purity ≥99.9%, DEG ≤0.08%, color ≤5 APHA. ResourceCycle's methanolysis co-produces high-purity EG at 1,600 t/y, with carbon footprint >30% lower than ethylene-based EG.
Related: dmt, pet, antifreeze, upr
PTA · CAS 100-21-0
Traditional polyester route's main monomer; condensation with EG produces PET. Replaceable by DMT in chemical recycling route.
PTA is produced by oxidation of p-xylene, the mainstream PET feedstock today. Compared to PTA, DMT route has 32% lower energy, 3-5× better product color, and feedstock derived from waste PET recycling.
Related: dmt, pet, methanolysis
PET · CAS 25038-59-9
Thermoplastic polyester from DMT (or PTA) + EG condensation; bottle / fiber / film markets.
PET is the largest-volume engineering polyester, with ~95 million tons global demand in 2024. Three markets: bottle-grade (food & beverage), fiber-grade (polyester staple), film-grade (optical / electronic / release). Waste PET methanolysis enables molecular regeneration to DMT + EG with 30-40% lower carbon footprint.
PBT engineering plastic
Engineering plastic from DMT + 1,4-butanediol (BDO) transesterification; EV / 5G / electronics use.
PBT offers rapid crystallisation, electrical insulation, heat resistance (HDT >220 °C) and chemical resistance. Applications: automotive connectors, electronic housings, 5G base station components, medical devices. ResourceCycle DMT (≥99.9% purity, ≤0.01 acid value) feeds directly into industrial PBT polymerisation.
Related: dmt, bdo, engineering-plastic
Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol
High-clarity, impact-resistant copolyester from DMT + EG + CHDM terpolymerisation.
PETG substitutes CHDM (1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol) for part of EG, breaking chain regularity to give amorphous transparent polyester (>90% light transmission). Applications: baby bottles, cosmetic packaging, coil film, 3D printing filament, medical device trays. ResourceCycle DMT color ≤5 APHA outperforms polyester-grade benchmark.
Poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate-co-EG)
CHDM-rich (>60%) copolyester with EG and DMT; higher Tg and toughness than PETG.
PCTG with CHDM ≥60% has glass transition Tg ~88 °C, superior toughness and chemical resistance vs PETG. Used in medical devices, premium cosmetic packaging, electronics housings. ResourceCycle DMT (Zn residue ≤0.3 ppm) suits PCTG for medical / food-contact compliance.
Chemical Methanolysis
Chemical recycling process: waste PET + excess methanol + catalyst → molecular depolymerisation to DMT + EG.
Methanolysis is the most industrially mature among three mainstream PET chemical recycling routes (methanolysis / glycolysis / hydrolysis). ResourceCycle GREEN CIRCLE process operates at 155-170 °C, 0.1-0.3 MPa with Zn-Mn binary catalyst (TON ≥4,500, product color ≤5 APHA). vs Sb₂O₃: 70 °C lower T, product metal residue Sb 80 ppm → Zn ≤0.3 ppm.
Related: dmt, eg, glycolysis, hydrolysis, catalyst
PET Glycolysis
Chemical recycling: waste PET + EG + catalyst → BHET (bis-hydroxyethyl terephthalate).
Glycolysis differs from methanolysis: product is BHET rather than DMT + EG, higher reaction T (200-240 °C), downstream must re-polymerise back to PET (cannot feed PBT / PETG). Loop Industries / IBM VolCat use this route. ResourceCycle chose methanolysis for broader product applicability (DMT → PBT, PETG, PCTG, PET four-way downstream).
Related: methanolysis, pet, bhet
Zn-Mn binary catalyst
Metal complex accelerating PET-methanol transesterification; determines temperature, selectivity, color.
Traditional: Sb₂O₃ (Sb residue ≤80 ppm, poor color); Ti(OBu)₄ (Ti residue, 180-220 °C). ResourceCycle proprietary Zn-Mn binary catalyst: Zn²⁺ Lewis-acid activates ester carbonyl, Mn²⁺ stabilises tetrahedral intermediate; ≥98% conversion at 155-170 °C; recovered ≥99.5% via PolyCh-Z-201 chelating resin.
Related: methanolysis, dmt
International Sustainability and Carbon Certification PLUS · Mass Balance Certification
Mass-balance based sustainability traceability certification — chemical recycling passport.
ISCC PLUS issued by ISCC System GmbH (Germany) recognises chemical recycling output for brand green procurement compliance. ResourceCycle DMT holds ISCC PLUS mass-balance certification, labellable as "recycled content X%" for customer ESG disclosure, supporting P&G / Coca-Cola / Unilever brand recycled commitments.
Related: iso-14067, scope3, mass-balance
PCF · ISO 14067:2018
International standard for product life-cycle GHG emissions quantification and disclosure.
ISO 14067:2018 defines cradle-to-gate / cradle-to-grave product carbon footprint methodology. ResourceCycle DMT carbon footprint ~1.4 t CO₂e/t (PTA route ~2.8 t/t), SGS-verified PCF report usable directly for customer CDP / DJSI Scope 3 disclosure.
Related: iscc-plus, scope3, mass-balance
Value chain GHG emissions
Value-chain indirect emissions: purchased goods, transportation, product use and end-of-life.
GHG Protocol categorises emissions: Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (electricity), Scope 3 (value chain). Downstream brands (Coca-Cola, P&G, Nestlé) now include Scope 3 in disclosure — cascading low-carbon PCF and traceable recycled feedstock requirements upstream. ResourceCycle chemical-recycling DMT enables ≥18% Scope 3 reduction for customers.
Mass Balance Allocation
Allocation method allowing physical mixing of recycled and virgin feedstock, recycled attribute assigned by mass ratio.
Chemically recycled DMT and virgin DMT are molecularly identical and cannot be physically distinguished downstream. Mass balance (ISCC PLUS / RSB endorsed) allows producers to assign recycled attributes to a portion of product by input ratio — commercially executable recycled labelling. ResourceCycle ISCC PLUS certification supports this model.
CHDM · CAS 105-08-8
Cyclic diol from DMT hydrogenation; key monomer for PETG / PCTG.
CHDM produced by hydrogenation of DMT (with Pd / Ru / Ni catalyst) via DMCD intermediate. Global capacity concentrated in Eastman, SK Chemical. ResourceCycle DMT purity advantage makes it ideal CHDM upstream feedstock.
Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate
Biaxially-stretched PET film; optical, electronic, packaging, release applications.
BOPET produced via PET melt extrusion → casting → biaxial stretching (MD 3.5× / TD 3.8×) → heat setting; thickness 6-350 μm. Optical-grade BOPET used in LCD polarizer substrate, solar back sheet, automotive display panels. ResourceCycle mobile skid methanolysis plant enables in-line BOPET trim regeneration.
BHET · CAS 959-26-2
PET glycolysis intermediate; can be re-polymerised to PET.
BHET formed from PET + EG reaction in glycolysis. Formula C12H14O6. Glycolysis → BHET → re-polymerisation → PET only closes the PET loop; cannot divert to PBT / PETG. Methanolysis → DMT route offers broader applicability.
Related: glycolysis, pet
BDO · CAS 110-63-4
Key diol monomer for PBT; DMT + BDO transesterification → PBT.
BDO produced via maleic anhydride or Reppe process in China. Formula C4H10O2. Downstream: PBT, polyurethane (PU), γ-butyrolactone (GBL), tetrahydrofuran (THF). ResourceCycle methanolysis DMT is premium upstream feedstock for PBT synthesis.
UPR
Base resin for FRP, artificial marble, SMC / BMC molding compounds.
UPR produced from dibasic acid + diol + unsaturated acid (maleic anhydride / acrylic) condensation, then peroxide-cured with styrene. EG is the most common diol component. ResourceCycle methanolysis EG directly substitutes ethylene-based EG in UPR formulation for lower carbon footprint.
Related: eg
Engine Coolant
EG is the main component (≥50%); freezing-point depression, boiling-point elevation, anti-corrosion.
Long-life antifreeze (OAT, HOAT formulations) typically contains 50%-70% EG + 30%-50% water + corrosion inhibitors + dye. ResourceCycle polyester-grade EG (aldehyde ≤8 ppm, DEG ≤0.08%) meets GB 29743 / ASTM D3306 antifreeze standards.
Related: eg
Hazard and Operability Study
Systematic process hazard and operability identification method for chemical plants.
HAZOP uses guide words (No / More / Less / Reverse) + parameters (flow / T / P / concentration) to identify process deviations and consequences. ResourceCycle DMT plant completed full HAZOP + safety assessment approval, 30+ SIL-2 interlock loops, ATEX Zone 1 electrical.
IEC 61511
Process safety interlock failure probability grading, level 1-4.
SIL 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 correspond to failure probabilities 10⁻¹ / 10⁻² / 10⁻³ / 10⁻⁴ per hour. ResourceCycle DMT plant reactor emergency cooling, PSV, rupture discs and 30+ critical interlocks designed to SIL-2 (≤1/100 annual failure probability), components TÜV / Exida certified.
94/9/EC · 2014/34/EU
EU directive on equipment for use in explosive atmospheres; Zone 0/1/2 + Group I/II classification.
Methanol is flammable (flash point 11 °C), DMT methanolysis plant explosive zone classification: reactor area Zone 1 (occasional explosive gas presence under normal operation). ResourceCycle plant-wide ATEX Zone 1 Cat 2G IIB T3 electrical compliance.
CBAM
EU policy tool taxing imports based on embedded carbon emissions; full implementation 2026.
CBAM covers steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser, electricity, hydrogen at launch; may expand to chemicals and polymers. EU export customers already require PCF reports + third-party verification. ResourceCycle DMT carbon footprint ~1.4 t CO₂e/t (vs PTA ~2.8 t/t) significantly reduces customer CBAM tariff exposure.
Hazen Color · Pt-Co Color · ASTM D1209
Liquid / light solid color metric based on platinum-cobalt standard; lower = whiter.
APHA color (Hazen / Pt-Co) measures sample transmission at 380-700 nm against platinum-cobalt standard. Polyester-grade DMT requires ≤5 APHA, optical-grade ≤3 APHA. ResourceCycle DMT averages 2-3 APHA, outperforming polyester-grade benchmark.
Related: dmt, optical-grade
ISOTANK · T11 / T14
20 ft maritime standardised chemical tank; volume 21-26 m³; main EG / MEG export packaging.
ISO Tank (T11, T14 types) holds EG 24-25 t; IMDG hazardous goods transport compliant. Advantages: reusable, fast loading / unloading, eliminates drum manual cost. ResourceCycle EG supports ISO Tank consolidated or full-container export to Southeast Asia, Europe, Middle East.
Related: eg
Optical-grade DMT
Material grade for optical PET / PETG / PCTG applications: color ≤3 APHA, b ≤0.3, haze ≤0.5%.
Optical-grade polyester used in LCD polarizer substrate, solar back sheet, EV displays, OLED encapsulation — extremely stringent color, b-value (yellowness), haze and dust requirements. ResourceCycle custom optical-grade DMT (deep decolourisation + 4-stage distillation + activated carbon + molecular sieve refining) for BOPET customers.
EP
Plastics with superior mechanical, thermal, electrical properties; PA / PBT / POM / PC five-major family.
Engineering plastics differ from commodity plastics in higher mechanical strength (tensile ≥50 MPa), HDT (≥100 °C), long-term stability. PBT (DMT + BDO derived) is one of the five major engineering plastics, with ~800 kt global demand in 2024. ResourceCycle DMT is premium upstream feedstock for PBT.
