substance

Terephthalic acid

Formula: C8H6O4
CAS: 100-21-0
InChIKey: KKEYFWRCBNTPAC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
ChEBI: CHEBI:15702

Made by

Purified terephthalic acid by air oxidation of p-xylene in acetic acid and hydropurificationMain productConcept · not reviewed

Used by

Polyethylene terephthalate by continuous PTA esterification, melt polycondensation and SSPFeedstockConcept · not reviewed

Routes compared

One route in the Atlas makes Terephthalic acid: nothing to compare yet. A comparison appears when a second route is added.

Per 1 kg of Terephthalic acid: inventory from each route's LCI dataset, unallocated; footprints per the functional unit of their own LCA.

Route	Tier, design maturity, review status	Geography, year	Energy	Feedstocks	Key emissions	Footprint	Comparability
Purified terephthalic acid by air oxidation of p-xylene in acetic acid and hydropurificationcontinuous liquid-phase air oxidation in acetic acid with Co/Mn/Br catalyst (Amoco, Mid-Century type) and catalytic hydropurification; the DMT route and oxygen-based oxidation are not modelled	Tier 1 (sourced conceptual)Design maturity: Concept (research)Not independently reviewedDataset review: unreviewed	GLO, 2016	Electricity: 0.0961 kWh Steam, as heat delivered: 0.722 kWh	p-Xylene: 0.656 kg Acetic acid (solvent make-up): 0.039 kg Oxidation and combustion oxygen, from ambient air: 0.659 kg (free) Demineralised water to the process: 2.6 kg Cobalt oxidation catalyst (make-up): 0.00004 kg Manganese oxidation catalyst (make-up): 0.00003 kg	CO2 from burnt p-xylene and acetic acid (reactor and thermal oxidiser): 0.0954 kg CO after thermal oxidation of the vents: 0.00019 kg VOC after thermal oxidation (methyl acetate, p-xylene, acetic acid): 0.000198 kg Terephthalic acid dust from the product transfer vent: 0.0007 kg	no footprint	–

ISO 14044 requires a critical review (by a panel of interested parties, ISO/TS 14071) of a comparative assertion intended to be disclosed to the public. These routes are listed side by side for screening; a statement that one is better than another needs that review. None of these routes has had such a review.