Grain poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was depolymerized in pure water in the presence of different catalysts. The product quantity of bis(2-hydroxyethylene) terephthalate (BHET) and glycol obtained was different from the one without catalysts; especially, using zinc acetate as catalyst, the product obtained was in its pure form with sufficiently high yields. Meanwhile, the depolymerization rate nearly reached to 100%. The purified product was characterized by IR spectroscopy. The depolymerization process of PET reported here was economically viable for the high yields of BHET and glycol. Among all the catalysts used in the reaction, zinc acetate was testified as the most effective one, and the optimal dosage of zinc acetate was 0.4% of the feedstock PET. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.