Abstract
Recycled poly (ethylene terephthalate), PET, can be modified to produce nonionic surfactants. Recycling of PET waste was carried out in presence of different weight ratios of diethanolamine and triethanolamine and manganese acetate as catalyst. The molecular weights of the prepared oligomers were calculated from hydroxyl number and determined from GPC measurements. The produced oligomers were reacted with polyethylene glycol, PEG, which have different molecular weights 400, 1000 and 4000. Interfacial tension and the effectiveness in oil dispersion of the synthesized surfactants were reported. It was found that, the maximum efficiency of oil spill dispersants was reached to maximum when the surfactant molecules ended with two PEG 1000 moities.