Kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycolysis by diethylene glycol. Part II: Effect of temperature, catalyst and polymer morphology

The influence of various parameters on the kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) glycolysis by diethylene glycol (DEG), namely temperature (from 190 to 220 °C), temperature profile, catalysis and PET morphology has been studied.The results showed a strong influence of some experimental conditions (temperature and catalysis) on the mixture evolution during depolymerisation. The temperature study showed a critical temperature between 210 and 220 °C which seems to be the consequence of a better diffusion of DEG in PET, allowing easier reactions in solid phase. The initial morphology of PET scraps does not affect the rates of reactions much, in contrast to the temperature profile which has a great importance: time of PET dissolution at 220 °C is considerably shorter by heating PET and DEG separately at 220 °C before mixing, than by heating a cold mixture of the two reagents to 220 °C.     

Glycolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) using basic ionic liquids as catalysts

The glycolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was studied using several ionic liquids and basic ionic liquids as catalysts. The basic ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxyl ([Bmim]OH), exhibits higher catalytic activity for the glycolysis of PET, compared with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bicarbonate ([Bmim]HCO₃), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([Bmim]Br). FT-IR, ¹H NMR and DSC were used to confirm the main product of glycolysis was bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) monomer. The influences of experimental parameters, such as the amount of catalyst, glycolysis time, reaction temperature, and dosages of ethylene glycol on the conversion of PET, yield of BHET were investigated. The results showed a strong influence of the mixture evolution of temperature and reaction time on depolymerization of PET. Under the optimum conditions of m(PET):m(EG): 1:10, dosage of [Bmim]OH at 0.1 g (5 wt%), reaction temperature 190 °C and time 2 h, the conversion of PET and the yield of BHET were 100% and 71.2% respectively. Balance between the polymerization of BHET and depolymerization of PET could be changed when the reaction time was more than 2 h and contents of catalyst and EG were changed.     

Effect of activated carbon black nanoparticles on solid state polymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Solid state polycondensation (SSP) is a conventional method used to increase the molecular weight of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) in order to become more suitable for applications as carbonated soft drink bottles, etc. In the present study, the effect of activated carbon black (ACB) nanoparticles, on the SSP kinetics is examined. TEM micrographs revealed that ACB was finely dispersed into PET matrix as individual nanoparticles without creating agglomerates. Intrinsic viscosity (IV) measurements revealed that at temperatures 210 and 220 °C the activated carbon black does not influence the IV increase. However, at 230 and 240 °C an accelerating effect was found and higher intrinsic viscosity values were measured, compared to neat PET. Furthermore, a simple kinetic model was employed to predict the time evolution of IV, as well as the carboxyl and hydroxyl content during SSP. The kinetic parameters of the transesterification and esterification reactions were estimated at different temperatures with or without the addition of ACB. From the experimental measurements and the theoretical simulation results it was proved that ACB enhances the esterification reaction at all studied temperatures acting as a co-catalyst. However, the transesterification reaction remains unaffected by the presence of ACB at elevated temperatures (230 or 240 °C), while it is reduced at lower values (210 and 220 °C). Finally, the activation energies of both transesterification and esterification were determined together with the concentration of inactive end-groups.     

Surface modifications of PET in argon atmospheric pressure plasma: Gas flow rate effect

The correlation between plasma optical properties and the treated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface characteristics have been studied at various Ar flow rate. The rotational T_rot and vibrational T_vib temperatures of APPJ were determined from SPS emission band. The pristine and plasma-treated PET surfaces were characterized by several techniques including X-ray photoelectrons spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, contact angle (CA), and atomic force microscope (AFM). The CA decreased rapidly in the flow rate range 1–3 L/min and weakly dependent as flow rate > 3 L/min. XPS results showed that C 1s % of plasma-treated PET surfaces decreases and has a minimum for samples treated at 3–4 L/min, while O 1s has a maximum at the same flow rate range. The carbon C 1s peak of pristine and plasma treated PET samples resolved into five subcomponents: C–C, C–O, C=O, O–C=O, and π–π bonds with variable percentage ratio accordance to the plasma gas flow rate. Raman data revealed a partial loss in the crystallinity of the treated PET samples and also confirm the incremental of C–O band at Ar flow rate of 3 L/min. AFM images showed that the surface roughness of treated PET films increases as Ar flow rate increases.     

Ultrafast 99% Polyethylene terephthalate depolymerization into value added monomers using sequential glycolysis-hydrolysis under microwave irradiation

Effective and efficient hybrid depolymerisation technologies are emerging as high potential sustainable routes with considerable benefits over conventional recycling methods for the achievement of circular economies for plastics. Herein, combined green and fast glycolysis-hydrolysis depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was carried out under microwave irradiation (MW) with excellent efficiencies. In MW assisted glycolysis of PET, the catalytic activity of two deep eutectic solvents (DES) based on (choline chloride-urea (DES 1)) and (choline chloride-thiourea (DES 2)) was evaluated and compared. Optimised glycolysis conditions were determined using Box Behnken Design (BBD) to attain maximum weight loss of PET, low crystallinity and increased carbonyl index of residual PET. DES volume of 4 mL, 5.5–6 mL of ethylene glycol, and 0.5 min MW irradiation time resulted in a prominent rise in PET weight loss and carbonyl index of residual PET. DES 2 showed an improved catalytic activity than that of DES 1 which is associated to its stronger interaction with EG and PET polymer chains during the course of the reaction. Residual PET obtained post glycolysis reaction was further depolymerized using MW assisted hydrolysis in the presence of weakly basic Na₂CO₃ and EG. Within 3-minute, the proposed sequential depolymerization technologies facilitated ≈99% conversion of PET to terephthalic acid (TPA), monohydroxyethyl terephthalate (MHET), and bis (2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) monomers produced at a yield of 62.79–80.66%, 17.22–34.79% and 0.54–0.59% respectively. Application on post-consumer PET sample also revealed very satisfactory results with 96.77–98.25% PET conversion and 60.98–78.10% yield of TPA.     

Effect of silica nanoparticles on solid state polymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

In the present study, the effect of silica nanoparticles, on the solid state polycondensation (SSP) kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is thoroughly investigated. At silica concentrations less than 1 wt% and reaction temperatures between 200 and 230 °C higher intrinsic viscosity (IV) values were measured, compared to neat PET at all reaction times. However, with 1 wt% of nanosilica (n-SiO₂), the IV increase of the nanocomposites was similar to that of neat PET and a further increase to 5 wt% n-SiO₂ resulted in significantly lower IV values. A simple kinetic model was also employed to predict the time evolution of IV, as well as the carboxyl and hydroxyl content during SSP. The kinetic parameters of the transesterification and esterification reactions were estimated at different temperatures with or without the addition of n-SiO₂. The activation energies of both reactions were determined together with the concentration of inactive end-groups. From the experimental measurements and the theoretical simulation results it was proved that n-SiO₂ in small amounts (less than 1 wt%) enhances both the esterification and transesterification reactions at all studied temperatures acting as a co-catalyst. However, as the amount of nanosilica increases a number of inactive hydroxyl groups were estimated corresponding to participation of these groups in side reactions with the nanosilica particles. These side reactions lead initially to branched PET chains and eventually (5 wt% n-SiO₂ concentration) to crosslinked structures.     

Recycling of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) with castor oil using microwave heating

The chemical recycling of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) using castor oil (CO) as a reagent is reported. CO presents a renewable alternative to petrochemical based reagents, e.g. glycols, and enables also substantial modification of final physico-chemical properties of a received product. Advantageously, microwave irradiation was used to accelerate the depolymerization of PET. A composition of obtained product was strongly influenced by the reaction temperature. When the decomposition of PET was performed at temperature higher than 240 °C, then a significant extent of side products based on PET oligomers and transesterified CO was observed due to dehydration and hydrolysis of CO. Contrary to that, PET decomposition took place at slow rate below 230 °C and the optimal reaction temperature lies in the relatively narrow interval from 230 °C to 240 °C. The product prepared in the optimal temperature range did not contain any high molecular weight PET oligomers. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry enabled to identify the structures included in the obtained polyol product. The maximum number of six repeating monomeric unit of PET was found in the product, which confirmed practically the complete depolymerization of PET chain and good reactivity of the acylester hydroxyl groups of CO.     

Applicable and cost-efficient microplastic analysis by quantitative 1H-NMR spectroscopy using benchtop NMR and NoD methods

In continuation of our work on the proof-of-concept that quantitative NMR spectroscopy may be a valuable tool in microplastic (MP) analysis and quantification, we present here investigations using low-field NMR spectrometers and nondeuterated solvents for the analysis of solutions of MP particles in suitable solvents. The use of low-field NMR spectrometers (benchtop NMR) that are considerably more cost-effective in terms of purchase and operating costs compared with high-field NMR spectrometers and the use of nondeuterated solvents (NoD method) leads to an applicable and cost-efficient method for mass-based MP analysis. For benchtop 80-MHz NMR, limits of detection for polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) are in the same range as if a high-field 500-MHz NMR spectrometer was used for quantification (500 MHz: PET 1 μg/ml, PVC 42 μg/ml, and PS 9 μg/ml; 80 MHz: PET 4 μg/ml, PVC 19 μg/ml, and PS 21 μg/ml) for polymers being dissolved in deuterated solvents. The same is true for the corresponding limits of quantification. Moreover, it is shown for the first time that quantitative determination of the mass concentration of PET, PVC, and PS is also possible using NoD methods by evaluating the integrals of polymer-specific signals relative to an internal or external standard. Detection limits for NoD methods are in a similar range as if deuterated solvents were used (PET 2 μg/ml, PVC 39 μg/ml, and PS 8 μg/ml) using a high-field 500-MHz spectrometer or the 80-MHz spectrometer (PET 5 μg/ml).     

Effect of ionizing radiation on physicochemical and mechanical properties of commercial monolayer and multilayer semirigid plastics packaging materials

Tensile testing, overall migration tests and sensory tests were used to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation (5–60 kGy) on six commercial semirigid packaging materials. The monolayer and multilayer materials in sheet or bottle form were: polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride/high-density polyethylene (PVC/HDPE), polyethylene terepthalate (PET), HDPE/polyamide (HDPE/PA) and HDPE. In terms of mechanical strength, PET was the most radiation-resistant material, while the HDPE monolayer and multilayer showed some degradation after 60 kGy. PS was slightly affected after 30 kGy, whereas PP was severly degraded and became very brittle. Generally, there was no change in overall migration at lower doses; at higher doses migration from PP tended to increase, while migration from HDPE/PVC tended to decrease. Odor and taste transfer as well as discoloration were observed with most plastics, especially at higher doses, and it is concluded that these tests are a sensitive and important quality control tool for evaluating irradiated packaging materials.     

Characterization of cross-linking structure in terephthalate polyesters formed through material recycling process by pyrolysis-gas chromatography in the presence of organic alkali

Typical terephthalate polyesters such as poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were characterized by pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC) in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide in terms of the cross-linking structure formed during their material recycling. In the pyrograms of PBT and PET thermally treated at 270 °C for 1 h, which were prepared as model polymers containing cross-linking structures, an additional peak was commonly observed as well as the main reactive pyrolysis products for the original polyesters such as dimethyl terephthalate. Based on the observed spectra obtained by Py-GC/mass spectrometry and Py-GC/Fourier transform infrared spectrometry measurements, this peak was assigned to the product reflecting a biphenyl-type cross-linking structure. Furthermore, in the pyrograms of kneaded PBT and PET samples also at 270 °C for a total of 1 h, which were prepared to simulate material recycling, the same peak for the cross-linking structure was also observed, although its intensity was slightly lower than that in the samples thermally treated in air. This fact verified that the biphenyl-type cross-linking structure would be considerably formed during the recycling of PBT and PET, which might in turn contribute to the deteriorated properties of the recycled materials from waste polyesters. Moreover, difference in the formation of the cross-linking between PBT and PET is discussed on the basis of the observed results.     

Modelling physical properties of highly crystallized polyester reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The effects of carbon nanotubes dispersion into thermoplastic polymers are complex and strongly dependent upon their aggregation state. A poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) matrix has been reinforced through addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Such an addition has generated an increase in flexural modulus and a decrease in flexural strength at room temperature, and an increase in both properties above the glass transition temperature (at 100 °C). These different behaviours, dictated by temperature, have been investigated through two different micromechanical models that have permitted to put forward hypothesis on failure mechanisms and to shed light on the role played by crystalline phase. The results of thermal analyses have shown that the heat capacity of PET nanocomposites varies according to the MWCNTs content as the flexural modulus. Such a similarity has suggested to modify the Halpin-Tsai equations (H-T), typically used to predict elastic properties of short fibres reinforced composites, in order to determine the relationships occurring between PET specific heat and aspect ratio of dispersed MWCNT. The analyses performed by means of either classical H-T (elastic modulus) or modified H-T (heat capacity) equations, provided very similar estimation of the MWCNT aspect ratios. In addition, a simple elaboration of the modified H-T equations permitted the calculation of rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) into PET. The obtained values were slightly higher than those evaluated by means of a procedure based on the loss tangent peak variation measured through dynamic mechanical experiments. The detected strength decrease at 25 °C have been attributed to crack propagation through a percolative path between crystalline coating layer of MWCNTs and PET (favoured by matrix brittleness), while at 100 °C the crack propagation is hampered by rubbery behaviour of the matrix.     

Comparative reactivity of glycols in PET glycolysis

The kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) glycolysis by diethylene glycol (DEG), dipropylene glycol (DPG), glycerol (Gly) and mixtures of these glycols have been studied with two experimental procedures: uncatalysed at 220 °C and catalysed at 190 °C. An experimental device was set up allowing the isothermal kinetics to be monitored. A precise initial reaction time was obtained by separately warming the glycol and the polyester at the temperature of reaction before mixing them.The reactivity order of different glycols varies according to the conditions of temperature and catalysis. Schematically, the global reactivity does depend not only on the chemical reactivity of the glycol but also on its physico-chemical properties: ability to solvate the solid polyesters and polarity of the reaction mixture. Attempts to find synergic effects failed for almost all mixtures, except the mixture DPG + Gly in which the PET is digested more quickly than in pure DPG or Gly.     

Chemical recycling of post-consumer PET wastes by glycolysis in the presence of metal salts

Chemical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has been the subject of increased interest as a valuable feedstock for different chemical processes. In this work, glycolysis of PET waste granules was carried out using excess ethylene glycol in the presence of different simple chemicals acting as catalysts, namely zinc acetate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulphate and potassium sulphate. Comparable high yields (≈70%) of the monomer bis(2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate) were obtained with zinc acetate and sodium carbonate as depolymerisation catalysts at 196 °C with a PET:catalyst molar ratio of 100:1 in the presence of a large excess of glycol. The purified monomer was characterised by elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance. These results revealed that, although the intrinsic activity of zinc acetate was significantly higher than that of sodium carbonate, this latter salt could indeed act as an effective, eco-friendly catalyst for glycolysis. Also an exploratory study on the application of this catalytic recycling technology for complex PET wastes, namely highly coloured and multi-layered PET, was performed.     

Study of Interfacial Charge Transfer from an Electron Rich Organic Molecule to CdTe Quantum Dot by using Stern-Volmer and Stochastic Kinetic Models

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from N-methylaniline (NMA) to a photoexcited CdTe quantum dot (QD*) is studied in toluene. The PET mechanism at low to moderate quencher (NMA) concentrations (<0.08 M) remains mostly collisional with some contributions from QD-NMA complex formation. However, at high quencher concentrations (>0.10 M), QDs form larger numbers of static complexes with NMA molecules leading to a steep positive deviation in the steady-state Stern–Volmer curves. An isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) study confirms the formation of QD-NMA complexes (K∼150 M⁻¹) at high quencher concentrations. Fitting our experimental data using a stochastic kinetic model indicates that the number of NMA molecules attached per QD at highest NMA concentration (∼0.16 M) used in this study decreases from ∼0.76 to ∼0.47 with reducing the QD size from ∼5.2 nm to ∼3.2 nm. However, the PET rate increases with decreasing QD size, which is commensurate with the observation that the chemical driving force (ΔG) increases with decreasing the QD particle size. We have analyzed the PET kinetics mainly by using Stern-Volmer fittings. However, in some cases Tachiya's stochastic kinetic model is used for stoichiometric analysis, which seems to be useful only at high quencher concentrations. The measured PET rate coefficients in all the cases are found to be at least an order of magnitude lower when compared to the diffusion-controlled rate of the reaction medium.     

Ultrasound assisted alkaline hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in presence of phase transfer catalyst

Alkaline hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes from waste packaged drinking water bottles was carried out with and without influence of ultrasound waves rated 20 kHz frequency and 190 W power. Alkali used for hydrolysis was 10% NaOH (w/w). Tetrabutyl ammonium iodide (TBAI) was used as phase transfer catalyst (PTC) to enhance rate of hydrolysis. The experiment yields terephthalic acid (TA) and ethylene glycol as products of hydrolysis. Minimum time required for ultrasound assisted (UA) reaction and without ultrasound assistance (WUA) reaction to complete was investigated and compared. PTC: PET ratio = 0.03:1 w/w, temperature (90 °C) and NaOH concentration (10% w/w) were kept constant. All reactions were carried out at atmospheric pressure. For UA reaction, time required for 100% conversion of PET was found to be 45 min. For WUA reaction, the time required for 100% conversion of PET was found to be more than 65 min. Yield of TA was found to be >99% on the basis of moles of repeating units of PET fed. Melting point of product was found nearly equal to standard TA. Product TA was confirmed by comparing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of product with that of standard TA. Ratio of PTC to PET was fine-tuned for UA reaction keeping reaction time constant at 45 min.     

Diffusion coefficients and activation energies of diffusion of low molecular weight migrants in Poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottles

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is nowadays the packaging material of choice for beverages. Therefore knowledge about the diffusion coefficients at a certain temperature or activation energies of diffusion of potential migrants in the polymer is of interest, especially for the definition of the basic parameter set for migration modelling of PET. In this study, the diffusion coefficients of acetaldehyde, benzene and tetrahydrofuran in PET bottle materials were determined from kinetic migration experiments at four different temperatures. The activation energies for tetrahydrofuran and benzene were determined to be 106.8 kJ mol⁻¹ and 101.4 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The activation energy for acetaldehyde is significantly lower (75.7 kJ mol⁻¹) which is due to the lower molecular weight of this molecule compared to benzene and tetrahydrofuran. The results were compared with literature data of diffusion coefficients of other low molecular weight molecules in PET. From the results it is evident that the current migration model with the default modelling parameters for PET does not describe realistically the diffusion coefficients in PET. The migration of small molecules like acetaldehyde will be underestimated whereas higher molecular weight compounds will be overestimated by the current migration model. Whereas the overestimation is useful for compliance evaluation of PET bottles, for more realistic migration calculations, e.g. for exposure estimations, such overestimation is not desirable. Therefore, more accurate modelling parameters should be established. The key parameters for more realistic migration modelling are the activation energies of diffusion in the polymer.     

Crystallization of polypropylene,nylon-66 and poly(ethylene terephthalate) at pressures to 200 MPa: Kinetics and characterization of products

The crystallization kinetics of polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA66), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were studied, using a pressure dilatometer (to 200 MPa) to follow the volume changes associated with the crystallization process. The commonly used Avrami equation fitted the isothermal/isobaric crystallization data of PP and PA66 well. The Avrami exponent n was between 1.3 and 1.7, independent of crystallization pressure and temperature. Lines of constant Avrami rate parameter Z in the P-T plane were essentially parallel to the pressure dependence of the melting points and crystallization temperatures. However, the Avrami equation was not suitable for PET. The Malkin, Dietz, and Kim equations provided better fits. The crystallization half-time of PET increased with pressure at constant supercooling, in contrast to PP and PA66, for which it remained essentially unchanged. X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and pressure dilatometry were used to study the effect of formation pressure on the crystal structure, the melting point, and the density of products which were crystallized for short times (minutes) at various temperatures and pressures. No new crystal structures were found for PA66 and PET, but a mixture of monoclinic and triclinic crystals existed in PP above a formation pressure of 50 MPa. The melting points increased with formation pressure for PET, but remained unchanged for PP and PA66. Density at ambient conditions decreased with formation pressure for PP, but increased for PET and PA66. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigation of transient species in pulse-irradiated poly(ethylene terephthalate) film

A pulse radiolysis study of poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, film has been carried out with the main aims of investigating charge trapping. In PET, pulse radiolysis gives electron-positive hole pairs. Both charges can be stabilized by the reaction with polymeric matrix. In the first step, the PET radical anions and cations are formed (transient absorption maxima at ∼ 370 and 530 nm). During the second step, the electron is transferred from a PET radical anion to an ester group, followed by formation of an ester radical anion (transient absorption maximum at 430 nm). The recombination of these ionic species leads to an excited state formation observed during and after the 1-μs pulse. Spectral distribution of luminescence observed for pulse-irradiated PET (emission bands at ∼ 340, ∼ 370, and 400–410 nm) was similar to the one obtained for photoexcited PET. The detailed mechanism of ionic reactions in PET is proposed and discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2853–2862, 1999     

Recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste through methanolic pyrolysis in a microwave reactor

In this study, the methanolic pyrolysis (methanolysis) of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) taken from waste soft-drink bottles, under microwave irradiation, is proposed as a recycling method with substantial energy saving. The reaction was carried out with methanol with and without the use of zinc acetate as catalyst in a sealed microwave reactor in which the pressure and temperature were controlled and recorded. Experiments under constant temperature or microwave power were carried out at several time intervals. The main product dimethyl-terephthalate was analyzed and identified by FTIR and DSC measurements. It was found that PET depolymerization, is favored by increasing temperature, time and microwave power. High degrees of depolymerization were measured at temperatures near 180 °C and at microwave power higher than 150 W. Most of the degradation was found to occur during the initial 5–10 min. Compared to conventional pyrolysis methods, microwave irradiation during methanolic pyrolysis of PET certainly results in shorter reaction times supporting thus the conclusion that this method is a very beneficial one for the recycling of PET wastes.     

Electrospun recycled PET-based mats: Tuning the properties by addition of cellulose and/or lignin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of cellulose and/or lignin on the properties of mats prepared from dissolution (for 48 h or 72 h, solvent: trifluoroacetic acid) of recycled poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Briefly, the presence of cellulose led to a tendency of higher average fiber diameter and average pore area as well as lower average porosity compared to the neat mat (PET_ref, 242 ± 59 nm, 9.6 ± 1.1 10⁴ nm² and 19.0 ± 1.1%, respectively). The T_g values for electrospun PET combined with cellulose and/or lignin were higher than that of PET_ref (92.5 ± 0.1 °C), and the tensile strength increased with the cellulose and/or lignin loading. In addition, the presence of lignin (72 h of dissolution) led to a mat with an elongation at break of 149 ± 9% compared to 14 ± 2% for PET_ref. The results indicated that the properties of mats based on PET can be tuned by adding cellulose and/or lignin to solutions posteriorly electrospun as well as by varying the dissolution time.