Improved method of recycling polyurethane materials

A method for alcoholising and hydrolysing polyurethane (PUR) materials made from at least one polyol compound and at least one toluene diisocyanate based compound [hereinafter TDI compound];

• wherein the method comprises the following steps:
• contacting the polyurethane material with at least one alcoholising compound, thereby forming a reaction mixture (M0) and allowing the polyurethane material and the alcoholising compound to react in said reaction mixture (M0), thereby forming a mixture (M);
• allowing the mixture (M) to separate into at least an upper phase [hereinafter phase (A)] and a lower phase [hereinafter phase (B)], wherein phase (A) and phase (B) are two immiscible phases;
• subjecting phase (B) to at least one hydrolysis step, thereby forming a phase (B1);
• wherein phase (B) comprises at least a toluene diamine compound [hereinafter TDA compound] and a toluene dicarbamate compound [hereinafter TDC compound], wherein the at least one alcoholising compound is characterized by a melting point of lower than 200° C.;
• wherein the at least one alcoholising compound is characterized by a hydroxyl functionality of at least 2;
• and with the proviso that the at least one alcoholising compound is not glycerol.