Polyethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate, also named Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate), Polyethylene furanoate and Poly(ethylene furanoate) and generally abbreviated as PEF, is a polymer that can be produced by polycondensation of 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid, FDCA and Monoethylene glycol, MEG. As an aromatic polyester from ethylene glycol it is a chemical analogue of Polyethylene terephthalate, PET and Polyethylene naphthalate, PEN. PEF has been described in (patent) literature since 1951, but has gained renewed attention since the US department of energy proclaimed its building block, FDCA, as a potential bio-based replacement for purified Terephthalic acid, PTA in 2004.
Benefits over Polyethylene Terephthalate
One life-cycle assessment showed that replacing PTA in the production of PET by bio-based FDCA for the production of PEF has a potential for significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and non-renewable energy use (NREU). Furthermore, PEF exhibits an intrinsically higher gas barrier for oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor than PET and can therefore be considered an interesting alternative for packaging applications such as bottles, films and food trays.