ScienceAugust 17, 2026

terephthalate

TER-uh-THAL-ayt

Definition

A chemical compound used as a base component in the production of common plastics, particularly PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

Etymology

The word is derived from 'terephthalic' acid, which comes from the Greek 'terebinthos' (a type of tree) and 'phthalic' (an acid derived from naphthalene); the suffix '-ate' denotes it as a salt or ester of that acid.

In the news

The article mentions this term as part of 'polyethylene terephthalate' to identify a specific, common type of plastic material that the bacterial biobots are capable of adhering to and removing from water.

Czech Scientists Create Living Microrobot Swarms That Trap Microplastics

Read the full article ↗

Intelligent Living

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