Monitoring Photo‐Depolymerization of Polyethylene Terephthalate Using Time‐Resolved Diffusion NMR on a Benchtop Spectrometer

The photo‐depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polymer of significant industrial importance and environmental impact, was monitored in real‐time using a time‐resolved diffusion (TR‐D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) acquisition interleaved with a 1 H experiment on a benchtop spectrometer. The approach enabled monitoring of the evolution of the diffusion coefficient, molecular mass, and dispersity of the polymer during the process. Additionally, the kinetic information from the 1 H NMR allowed for the identification of the main cleavage sites in the process. This study investigates how benchtop TR‐D NMR offers a powerful non‐destructive method for real‐time monitoring of photo‐depolymerization processes and can serve as a valuable tool for polymer degradation studies under flow conditions.