Method of cracking polymeric materials catalyzed by copper
First Claim
1. A method of depolymerizing a polymeric material, said method comprising the steps:
- (a) preparing a molten mixture comprising;
(i) a basic material selected from the group consisting of NaOH, KOH, Na2 B4 O7.10H2 O, Na3 BO3, Na2 SiO3, K2 SiO3, and mixtures thereof;
(ii) a source of copper selected from the group consisting of copper metal, univalent copper, divalent copper, and mixtures thereof; and
(iii) a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, and polypropylene; and
(b) maintaining said molten mixture under an unpressurized air atmosphere and at a temperature sufficient to reflux said molten mixture at a temperature below about 250°
C. for sufficient time to depolymerize said polymeric material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method for depolymerizing or "cracking" polymeric materials. The method of the present invention may be used in the disposal and/or recycling of such materials. Products of the degradation of polymeric materials using the present method may be recycled or more easily treated for disposal.
The present invention is a process for degrading, depolymerizing or "cracking" a polymeric material, otherwise amenable to cracking by alkali fusion, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a molten reaction mixture comprising:
(i) a basic material;
(ii) a source of copper; and
(iii) said polymeric material; and
(b) maintaining said molten mixture at a temperature sufficient to reflux said molten mixture for sufficient time to depolymerize said polymeric material.
-
Citations
4 Claims
-
1. A method of depolymerizing a polymeric material, said method comprising the steps:
-
(a) preparing a molten mixture comprising; (i) a basic material selected from the group consisting of NaOH, KOH, Na2 B4 O7.10H2 O, Na3 BO3, Na2 SiO3, K2 SiO3, and mixtures thereof; (ii) a source of copper selected from the group consisting of copper metal, univalent copper, divalent copper, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, and polypropylene; and (b) maintaining said molten mixture under an unpressurized air atmosphere and at a temperature sufficient to reflux said molten mixture at a temperature below about 250°
C. for sufficient time to depolymerize said polymeric material. - View Dependent Claims (3)
-
-
2. A method of depolymerizing a polyethylene, said method comprising the steps:
-
(c) preparing a molten mixture comprising; (i) a basic material selected from the group consisting of NaOH, KOH and Na2 B4 O7.10H2 O, Na3 BO3, Na2 SiO3, K2 SiO3, and mixtures thereof; (ii) a source of copper selected from the group consisting of copper metal, univalent copper, divalent copper, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) a material comprising polyethylene; and (d) maintaining said molten mixture under air at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature sufficient to reflux said molten mixture so as to form a vapor and at a temperature, as measured from said vapor, below about 250°
C. for sufficient time to depolymerize said material comprising polyethylene. - View Dependent Claims (4)
-
Specification