Method For The Production Of A Polyhydric Alcohol From A Urethane Containing Polymer

A method for the production of a polyhydric alcohol from a urethane containing polymer, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a reaction mixture comprising:
• i. said polymer, which comprises a urethane structural unit;
• ii. a solvent, which comprises a polyol capable of reacting with said polymer to depolymerize said polymer;
• and
• iii. a catalyst, which comprises catalyst particles;
• wherein a weight ratio of said polyol to said urethane containing polymer is from 3 to 50;
• a. depolymerizing said polymer in said reaction mixture by reacting with said polyol to produce said polyhydric alcohol;
• b. allowing said reaction mixture containing said polyhydric alcohol product to separate into an, upper, product phase containing said polyhydric alcohol and another, lower, phase mainly containing said polyol and said catalyst;
• c. recovering the catalyst from said another phase;
• and
• d. recovering said polyhydric alcohol product from said product phase.