Shear‐driven process intensification: Ultrafast alkaline hydrolysis of waste PET to high‐value metal–organic frameworks

Abstract The extensive use and insufficient recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) create environmental and resource challenges. Alkaline hydrolysis offers a sustainable approach to degrade PET into terephthalic acid (TPA) for high‐value metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), yet mass transfer limitations hinder efficiency. Here, we pioneer the application of high‐shear reactors (HSR) to enhance hydrolysis through intense shear stress and turbulence. Benefiting from higher rotor speed and narrower shear gap, PET flakes are fragmented into smaller particles with surface microstructures, significantly increasing specific surface area and ester group exposure, which leads to a 2.4‐fold increase in degradation compared to high‐speed stirring. Ethanol‐induced PET swelling and turbulence‐driven surface renewal synergistically enhance OH − /COO − interaction, enabling 98.6% PET degradation in 8 min (5.00 wt.% NaOH). Recycled TPA is used to synthesize UiO‐66, which has applicability in carbon dioxide adsorption. This work establishes a rapid, efficient pathway for transforming waste PET into functional materials, advancing circular economy practices.