Use of PET as proxy for PBT

Question

Greetings! 

For modelling a process, one of the materials consumed is PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate).

In the ecoinvent 3.11 database the closest product I can find is PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

How appropiate is to use this as a proxy? 

Is there a better proxy model for PBT?

Which changes should I make to the PET production process to better resemble the PBT production process?

Thanks for any help.

FP

Answer 1

Hello!
I am currently facing the same question. Have you found a suitable solution? If so, I would be pleased to receive feedback.

Answer 2

Hi,

you can have a look here if you are looking for a chemical data set: A. G. Parvatker and M. J. Eckelman, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2019, 7(1). Hence, you can model the reaction of terephthalic acid and yourself. I think it is feasible to copy the PET process (in the unit process database) and substitute ethylene glycol with 1,4-butanediol from 1,4-butanediol production in ecoinvent. Please adapt masses, energy use and water consumption according to literature data. However, you should indicate this in your report and make transparent what assumptions you took.

Hope this helps

Comments

Thanks a lot!