Method for extraction and transformation of phthalates contained in pvc plastics by means of alcohol

A process for recovering a dialkyl phthalate and a reusable target PVC plastic from a PVC feedstock containing at least one phthalate, including the following steps:

• a) a solid-liquid extraction of said PVC feedstock in the form of particles (1) by placing said particles of the PVC feedstock in contact with a solvent (9) including at least one alcohol of formula CnH2n+1OH, n being a positive integer less than 4 or greater than 8, to produce a liquid phase enriched in said phthalate and a solid phase including PVC plastic depleted in said phthalate;
• b) chemical transformation of said phthalate of said liquid phase into dialkyl phthalate of formula C6H4(COOCnH2n+1)2 by transesterification using said alcohol to enrich said liquid phase in said dialkyl phthalate;
• c) a solid-liquid separation between said solid phase and said liquid phase to produce at least one solid stream including the PVC plastic depleted in said phthalate (6) so as to recover said target PVC plastic;
• d) a liquid-liquid separation of said liquid phase, to produce at least a first liquid effluent including said dialkyl phthalate (5, 14) and a second liquid effluent comprising at least said solvent (7, 12).