Process of recovering components from scrap polyester
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsWilliam J. Gamble, Andrius A. Naujokas, Bruce R. DeBruin
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Abstract
A process of recovering components such as ethylene glycol and dimethylterephthalate from scrap polyester. The process steps are: (a) introducing oligomers of ethylene glycol and terephthalate acid or dimethyl terephthalate to a first vessel and heating the oligomers; (b) introducing scrap polyester to the first vessel and forming a startup melt with the oligomers; (c) transferring melt from the first vessel to a second vessel; (d) passing super-heated methanol through the melt in the second vessel to form a final melt comprising low molecular weight polyesters and monomers; (e) transferring final melt from the second vessel to the first vessel; and (f) recovering components from the second vessel.
Claims8
A process of recovering components from scrap polyester comprising polyethylene terephthalate, comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing glycol and terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate oligomers to a first vessel and heating the oligomers;
- (b) introducing scrap polyesters to the first vessel and forming a startup melt with the oligomers;
- (c) transferring melt from the first vessel to a second vessel;
- (d) passing super-heated methanol through the melt in the second vessel to form a final melt comprising low molecular weight polyesters and monomers;
- (e) transferring final melt from the second vessel to the first vessel;
- and
- (f) recovering components in the form of a vapor stream exiting the second vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.