Abstract:
A process of pyrolyzing plastic waste feed streams containing polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and polyethylene to recover polystyrene HCl and terephthalic acid comprising: heating the plastic waste feed stream to a first temperature; adding an acid or base catalyst on an oxide or carbonate support; heating the plastic waste feed stream to pyrolyze polyethylene terephthalate and polyvinyl chloride; separating terephthalic acid or HCl; heating to a second temperature to pyrolyze polystyrene; separating styrene; heating the waste feed stream to a third temperature to pyrolyze polyethylene; and separating hydrocarbons.
Abstract:
Caprolactam is recovered from polycaprolactam by hydrolyric cleavage of polycaprolactam with from 5 to 50 parts by weight of water per part by weight of polycaprolactam at from 200.degree. to 350.degree. C. under superatmospheric pressure to give an aqueous solution or suspension which contains monomeric caprolactam and oligomers thereof and may contain polycaprolactam and subsequent isolation of monomeric caprolactam from the aqueous solution or suspension by distillation or extraction, by a process in which the hydrolyric cleavage is carried out in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide at a pH of from 5 to 10.
Abstract:
A process of using fast pyrolysis in a carrier gas to convert a plastic waste feedstream having a mixed polymeric composition in a manner such that pyrolysis of a given polymer to its high value monomeric constituent occurs prior to pyrolysis of other plastic components therein comprising: selecting a first temperature program range to cause pyrolysis of said given polymer to its high value monomeric constituent prior to a temperature range that causes pyrolysis of other plastic components; selecting a catalyst and support for treating said feed streams with said catalyst to effect acid or base catalyzed reaction pathways to maximize yield or enhance separation of said high value monomeric constituent in said temperature program range; differentially heating said feed stream at a heat rate within the first temperature program range to provide differential pyrolysis for selective recovery of optimum quantities of the high value monomeric constituent prior to pyrolysis of other plastic components; separating the high value monomeric constituents, selecting a second higher temperature range to cause pyrolysis of a different high value monomeric constituent of said plastic waste and differentially heating the feedstream at the higher temperature program range to cause pyrolysis of the different high value monomeric constituent; and separating the different high value monomeric constituent.
Abstract:
Polyamide is semi-continuously depolymerized by: (a) charging the polyamide to a depolymerization reactor containing 5 to 50% by weight of an unpolymerized catalyst; (b) melting the polyamide and subjecting the resultant melt to a flow of superheated steam to obtain a steam distillate; (c) separating amide monomers in the distillate from other volatiles therein; (d) when conversion to amide monomers is 40 to 90% complete, recharging polyamide to the depolymerization reactor; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until a desired amount of polyamide is depolymerized.
Abstract:
Caprolactam is obtained by cleaving oligomers of caprolactam by a process in which the oligomers, in a liquid or solid state, are introduced into a fluidized alumina bed and cleaved at from 290.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of steam, and, in addition to the amount of inert gas required to fluidize the alumina bed, from 0.1 to 3 times this amount of inert gas is introduced above the fluidized bed.
Abstract:
A process for the neutral hydrolytic depolymerization of condensation polymers is described. The process is conducted in a continuous manner and comprises introducing condensation polymer waste material into an aqueous hydrolysis zone at a temperature of between 200.degree. C. and 300.degree. C. and superatmospheric pressure of at least 15 atmospheres. High pressure steam is introduced into the lower portion of the hydrolysis zone underneath the level of the condensation polymer waste material. The steam serves as the principal source of heat for the hydrolysis zone. By being introduced underneath the level of the condensation polymer waste material, the steam agitates the waste material to provide heat transfer to accelerate the hydrolysis reaction. Further, a portion of the steam condenses to provide water which is a reactant in the hydrolysis reaction. An aqueous solution of the product(s) of the hydrolysis reaction is withdrawn from an upper portion of the hydrolysis zone.
Abstract:
In a process for obtaining caprolactam by cleaving caprolactam oligomers by passing them through an alumina catalyst bed at an elevated temperature, the improvement that the oligomers are introduced, as liquid or solid, into a fluidized bed of alumina and are cleaved at from 290.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of steam.
Abstract:
A process is described for the recovery of 2-pyrrolidone monomer from polypyrrolidone waste material by heating the latter in the presence of a small amount of strong acid, and distilling off the said monomer.
Abstract:
A process for the continuous recovery of caprolactam from either solid polycaprolactam waste by depolymerization or from liquid polycaprolactam extraction water from an extraction zone where, in either instance, a caprolactam water vapor mixture is produced and subsequently upgraded in a distillation zone to provide a dilute mixture of caprolactam and water vapor. A minor portion of this dilute caprolactam water vapor is condensed and recycled to the distillation zone. The remaining, major portion of this mixture is compressed and admixed with fresh steam, superheated and passed to either the extraction zone or depolymerization reaction.