Poly(ethlyene terephthalate) waste from a local market was depolymerized by ethylene glycol (EG) in the presence of Lewis acidic ionic liquids [Bmim]ZnCl₃ and the qualitative analysis showed that bis(hydroxyethyl) terephthalate was the main product. Compared with ionic liquid [Bmim]Cl, the Lewis acidic ionic liquids showed highly catalytic activity in the glycolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) PET. Significantly, the conversion of PET and the yield of bis(hydroxyethyl) terephthalate were achieved at 100% and 83.8% with low catalyst ([Bmim]ZnCl₃) loading (0.16 wt %). Investigation also showed that the catalytic activity of [Bmim]ZnCl₃ was higher than that of [Bmim]MnCl₃. Catalyst [Bmim]ZnCl₃ can be reused up to five times and ¹H-NMR results show that the recovered catalyst is similar to the fresh one. A mechanism of the glycolysis of PET catalyzed by [Bmim]ZnCl₃ was proposed.

Supported molybdenum carbide (yMo₂C/M41) and Cu-promoted molybdenum carbide, using a mechanical mixing and co-impregnation method (xCuyMo₂C/M41-M and xCuyMo₂C/M41-I) on a mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41, were prepared by temperature-programmed carburization method in a CO/H₂ atmosphere at 1073 K, and their catalytic performances were tested for CO₂ hydrogenation to form methanol. Both catalysts, which were promoted by Cu, exhibited higher catalytic activity. In comparison to 20Cu20Mo₂C/M41-M, the 20Cu20Mo₂C/M41-I catalyst exhibited a stronger synergistic effect between Cu and Mo₂C on the catalyst surface, which resulted in a higher selectivity for methanol in the CO₂ hydrogenation reaction. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the highest selectivity (63%) for methanol was obtained at a CO₂ conversion of 8.8% over the 20Cu20Mo₂C/M41-I catalyst.