Catalytic imidazolysis of PET plastic waste using self-assembled NbOx nanorods

Abstract

A pivotal niobium oxide-based catalyst with self-assembled nanorod-like morphology (NbO_x-NR), distorted NbO₆ species, and abundant acid sites (7.397 mmol g⁻¹) was developed for efficient PET waste upcycling using imidazole. The 5 wt% NbO_x-NR catalyst gave a 91% isolated yield of 1,1′-terephthaloyl bis-imidazole (TBI) monomer at 160 °C for 4 h, with promising catalyst reusability and process scalability performance.