Method for separating and recovering target polymers and their additives from a material containing polymers

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a solvent system comprising water and a solvent III forming with water a 2-phase system is used in step b) instead of a solvent II, the target polymer being precipitated in the phase formed by the solvent III, whilst the additive and dissolved foreign polymers remain in this phase in dissolved form.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the target polymer dissolved in solvent I together with the dissolved additives is placed in the solvent II or in the solvent system comprising water and a solvent III.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the solvent II or the solvent system comprising water and a solvent III is added to the target polymer dissolved in solvent 1.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the target polymer dissolved in solvent I is introduced with a nozzle in step b).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, as target polymer, a polymer from the group of polyvinylchlorides, polycarbonates, polystyrenes and copolymers thereof (for example polyacrylnitrile-butadiene-styrene), polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyethyleneterephthalates and polyvinyl butyrals is separated.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, as additives, halogen-containing flame retardants, such as for example polybrominated diphenylether (PBDE), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), bis-(dibromopropoxy-dibromophenyl)-propane (OBPE) or bis-(tribromo-phenoxy)-ethane (TBPE) are separated and processed.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, as additives, plasticisers, such as for example esters of phthalic acid or adipinic acid and/or aliphatic carboxylic acids (C4-C8) are separated with polyethylene glycol and processed.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the solvent I is selected from the group of low molecular alcohols (C1-C5), of cyclic ethers (e.g. tetrahydrofurane), of the aliphatic (e.g. acetone, methylethylketone) and cyclic ketones (e.g. cyclohexanon), basic ester mixtures (e.g. DBE) or a mixture of these.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the solvent II is a low molecular alcohol (C1-C5).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the solvent III is an aliphatic, e.g. n-hexane, or aromatic hydrocarbon, e.g. toluene.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, before step b), the target polymer dissolved in solvent I is separated from the non-soluble components in solvent I by physical separation methods.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the precipitated target polymer (step c) is isolated by a physical separation method.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the target polymer is dried after the separation.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the separated and dried target polymer is re-extruded.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the additives are recovered by distillation of the solution in step d).

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in step d), the halogens are recovered from the halogen-containing additives present in solution by reduction of the flame retardants.