The present invention relates to the depolymerization of polymers and the recovery of the starting materials used for the production of the polymer. The present invention also relates to the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the recovery of terephthalic acid and ethylene glyco
The present invention relates to the depolymerization of polymers and the recovery of the starting materials used for the production of the polymer. The present invention also relates to the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the recovery of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
대표청구항▼
1. A process for depolymerizing a polymer comprising an ester functionality to starting materials for use in the production of new polymers, comprising admixing the polymer with a mixture of: (i) a non-polar solvent capable of swelling the polymer; and(ii) an agent capable of breaking the ester func
1. A process for depolymerizing a polymer comprising an ester functionality to starting materials for use in the production of new polymers, comprising admixing the polymer with a mixture of: (i) a non-polar solvent capable of swelling the polymer; and(ii) an agent capable of breaking the ester functionality; wherein the admixing is continued for a sufficient time to depolymerize at least a portion of the polymer to the starting materials; andwherein the process is performed without applying external heat. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the agent is a mixture of an alcohol and a hydroxide. 3. The process of claim 2, wherein the mixture of the alcohol and the hydroxide is added to the polymer simultaneously with the non-polar solvent. 4. The process of claim 2 or 3, wherein the ratio of the non-polar solvent to alcohol is about 1:10 to about 1:50 (v:v). 5. The process of claim 2 or 3, wherein the polymer is admixed with the non-polar solvent, the hydroxide, and the alcohol for about 0 h to about 5 h. 6. The process of claim 5, wherein the polymer is admixed with the non-polar solvent, the hydroxide, and the alcohol at atmospheric pressure. 7. The process of any one of claims 2-6, wherein the non-polar solvent capable of swelling the polymer is a halogenated solvent. 8. The process of any one of claims 2-7, wherein the alcohol is a linear C1-C4 alcohol. 9. The process of any one of claims 2-8, wherein the hydroxide is selected from a group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, an ammonium hydroxide, and a combination thereof. 10. The process of any one of claims 2-9, wherein the polymer is in the form of waste material. 11. The process of claim 10, wherein the waste material further comprises debris that do not include polymer comprising an ester functionality. 12. The process of claim 11, wherein debris comprises at least one of bottle caps, glue, paper, residual liquid, and dirt. 13. The process of any one of claims 2-12, wherein the polymer comprising the ester functionality is polyethylene terephthalate and wherein the starting materials for the production of the polymer are terephthalic acid or salt thereof and ethylene glycol. 14. The process of claim 13, wherein the terephthalic acid or salt thereof contains less than about 1% impurity (w/w). 15. The process of claim 14, wherein the impurity comprises at least one of isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, 4-methylbenzoic acid, 4-formylbenzoic acid, and metals. 16. A process for depolymerizing of polymer comprising an ester functionality to starting materials for use in the production of new polymer s, comprising admixing the polymer with a mixture of: (i) about 3 to about 5% (vol.) of a non-polar solvent capable of swelling the polymer, wherein the non-polar solvent is a halogenated solvent;(ii) about 95 to about 97% (vol.) of a linear C1-C4 alcohol; and(iii) a hydroxide;wherein the admixing is continued for about 1 h; andwherein the process is performed without applying external heat. 17. The process of claim 16, wherein the polymer comprising the ester functionality is polyethylene terephthalate and wherein the starting materials for the production of the polymer are terephthalic acid or salt thereof and ethylene glycol. 18. The process of claim 17, wherein the terephthalic acid or salt thereof contains less than about 1% impurity (w/w). 19. The process of claim 18, wherein the impurity comprises at least one of isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, 4-methylbenzoic acid, 4-formylbenzoic acid, and metals. 20. A process for depolymerizing of polyethylene terephthalate to terephthalic acid or salt thereof and ethylene glycol comprising admixing polyethylene terephthalate with a mixture of: (i) about 3 to about 5% (vol.) of a non-polar solvent capable of swelling the polymer, wherein the non-polar solvent is a halogenated solvent;(ii) about 95 to about 97% (vol.) of a linear C1-C4 alcohol; and(iii) a hydroxide;wherein the admixing is continued for about 1 h; andwherein the process is performed at without applying external heat.
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