Breaking the kinetic limitations of ethylene glycol oxidation in electrochemical upcycling of waste PET: from mechanistic insights to reaction system design

With the increasingly severe pollution caused by plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the electrochemical upcycling of waste PET has emerged as a major research focus due to its mild reaction conditions, controllable selectivity, and high economic value. This review systematically summarizes and analyzes the reaction kinetics involved in the electrochemical recycling of PET, with particular emphasis on the oxidation pathways of ethylene glycol (EG), a key intermediate product, during the ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR). From the perspectives of enhancing functional group recognition, regulating the adsorption behavior of key intermediates, and tuning synergistic effects, strategies for improving catalytic kinetics during the reaction process are comprehensively discussed. Furthermore, this paper provides an integrated analysis of the synergistic optimization of the EGOR reaction environment, focusing on pH interference and regulation, mitigation of mass transfer resistance, and competition from side reactions in aqueous systems. Finally, based on the industrial implementation of electrochemical PET upcycling, this review systematically summarizes current advances and practices in energy consumption control as well as product separation and purification within industrial reaction systems.