A process for the chemical recycling of post consumption polyethylene terephthalate which includes the steps of performing the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate based upon a hydrolysis reaction which causes a rupture in of the ester bonds formed between the polymer precursors of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol at the time of polymerization to recover terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. The advantages of the present process are the working conditions at low to moderate pressure, at temperatures of 215 to 450° C., allowing the process to reach the energy level required to achieve the desired polyethylene terephthalate hydrolysis and simultaneously promoting the separation and purification of the terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol formed in this hydrolysis reaction.