Monomer recovery from multi-component materials
First Claim
1. A process for recovering monomer from a multi-component polymeric waste material that includes at least one hydrolyzable polymeric component, comprising:
- (a) subjecting a mixture of water and the multi-component polymeric waste material to heat and pressure to form a liquid aqueous solution which includes as a major constituent a mixture of depolymerization products of the hydrolyzable polymeric component and a water insoluble portion which includes as a major constituent a mixture of materials other than the depolymerization products;
(b) cooling the mixture resulting from step (a) at a temperature at which the water insoluble portion forms a plurality of finely divided solid particles;
(c) separating the liquid aqueous solution and the finely divided solid particles; and
(d) recovering a monomer that formed the hydrolyzable polymeric component from the liquid aqueous solution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for recovering monomer from multi-component waste material that includes a hydrolyzable polymer, includes contacting the multi-component waste material with water and subjecting the resulting mixture to heat and pressure to form a liquid aqueous portion and a water insoluble portion. The liquid aqueous portion mainly includes depolymerization products of the hydrolyzable polymer, and the water insoluble portion mainly includes components other than the depolymerization products. This mixture is cooled and the liquid aqueous portion and the water insoluble portion are separated. Monomer that formed the hydrolyzable polymer is recovered from the liquid aqueous solution.
67 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A process for recovering monomer from a multi-component polymeric waste material that includes at least one hydrolyzable polymeric component, comprising:
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(a) subjecting a mixture of water and the multi-component polymeric waste material to heat and pressure to form a liquid aqueous solution which includes as a major constituent a mixture of depolymerization products of the hydrolyzable polymeric component and a water insoluble portion which includes as a major constituent a mixture of materials other than the depolymerization products; (b) cooling the mixture resulting from step (a) at a temperature at which the water insoluble portion forms a plurality of finely divided solid particles; (c) separating the liquid aqueous solution and the finely divided solid particles; and (d) recovering a monomer that formed the hydrolyzable polymeric component from the liquid aqueous solution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A process for recovering caprolactam from carpet material that includes nylon 6 and non-nylon 6 components, comprising:
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(a) subjecting a mixture of water and the carpet material to heat and pressure to form a liquid aqueous solution which includes as a major constituent a mixture of nylon 6 depolymerization products and a water insoluble portion which includes as a major constituent a mixture of non-nylon 6 components; (b) cooling the mixture resulting from step (a) at a temperature at which the water insoluble portion forms a plurality of finely divided solid particles; (c) separating the liquid aqueous portion and the finely divided solid particles; and
(d) recovering caprolactam from the liquid aqueous solution. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A process for recovering caprolactam from a carpet material that includes nylon 6 and non-nylon 6 components, comprising:
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(a) introducing the carpet material and water into a reactor; (b) subjecting the resulting mixture to heat and pressure to form a liquid aqueous portion which includes a s a major constituent a mixture of nylon 6 depolymerization products and a water insoluble portion which includes as a major constituent a mixture of non-nylon 6 components; (c) cooling the mixture resulting from step (b) at a temperature at which the water insoluble portion forms a plurality of finely divided solid particles; and (d) separating the liquid aqueous solution and the finely divided solid particles; (e) removing at least 75% water from the liquid aqueous solution; and (f) separating caprolactam from other depolymerization products. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification