Solvent applications of anhydromevalonolactone

A process for recycling a polymer, said process comprising:

• (a) dissolving at least one scrap polymer in a solvent comprising anhydromevalonolactone to thereby form a polymer mixture, wherein said solvent comprises a co-solvent selected from the group consisting of methyl ethyl ketone, benzyl acetate, ethyl benzoate, cyclohexanone, cyclopentyl methyl ether, dichloromethane, and co-solvents mixtures thereof;
• (b) contacting said reaction mixture with an absorbent or adsorbent to form a purified polymer mixture;
• (c) contacting said purified polymer mixture with at least one anti-solvent to thereby recover a dissolved polymer and a residue stream comprising said solvent and said anti-solvent;
• (d) separating said residue stream into a recovered solvent stream and recovered anti-solvent stream;
• (e) filtering said dissolved polymer to form a first filtered polymer;
• (f) washing said first filtered polymer to form a washed polymer;
• (g) filtering said washed polymer to form a second filtered polymer;
• and
• (h) drying said second filtered polymer to form a final polymer product.