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Bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers are polyester fibers produced by partially or entirely replacing traditional petrochemical feedstocks with biomass-derived materials. Their primary monomers—ethylene glycol (EG) and terephthalic acid—are identical to those in conventional PET fibers, with the key distinction being the shift toward renewable biomass as the raw material source. Regarding monomer production methods, bio-based EG manufacturing is relatively mature. It typically uses plants like sugarcane or corn as feedstock, fermenting them into ethanol, which is then converted into EG through dehydration, oxidation, and hydration steps. Some processes also utilize biomass gasification to produce synthesis gas for indirect EG synthesis. Bio-based terephthalic acid can be produced either by oxidizing bio-based paraxylene (PX) or mixed aromatics (BTX), or through direct biomass conversion pathways. For instance, starting from platform compounds like furfural, multi-step reactions can build aromatic structures to synthesize bio-based terephthalic acid.
In practical bio-based PET production, the most widely adopted approach remains “partially bio-based” PET, where terephthalic acid still originates from petroleum-based feedstocks while EG is derived from biomass (Figure 1). The bio-based content of such products typically reaches approximately 30%. Since this polymer shares identical chemical composition with conventional PET, it is compatible with existing polyester polymerization and spinning systems, making it the mainstream pathway for achieving large-scale production of bio-based PET fibers. In contrast, the technical route for fully bio-based PET (where both terephthalic acid and EG originate from biomass) remains in the R&D or demonstration application phase.
Fibers represent a key derivative of bio-based PET. By incorporating a high proportion of plant-derived EG into the PET system, these fibers maintain excellent performance while balancing environmental attributes, thereby enriching China's bio-based polyester fiber product portfolio.
Research indicates that fully plant-based PET fibers match conventional polyester in durability and processing adaptability while offering significant greenhouse gas reduction potential. Against the backdrop of growing demand for low-carbon materials, these fibers hold substantial future development value.
