Oxidative decoupling of scrap rubber

A process for reacting rubber polymers to obtain product yields of hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of:

• forming a reaction mixture of a vulcanized rubber polymer, water at or near supercritical conditions, and from about 5 percent to about 85 percent of an oxidant based on the total equivalent amount of said oxidant which would result in complete combustion of said vulcanized rubber polymer to water and carbon dioxide;
• reacting said vulcanized rubber polymer with said deficient amount of said oxidant in the presence of said water at a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C. at a pressure of from 70 atmospheres to about 400 atmospheres,
• decoupling at least carbon to sulfur bonds of said vulcanized rubber polymer;
• producing at least 50 percent by weight of C.sub.3 to C.sub.8 hydrocarbon compounds and C.sub.3 to C.sub.8 oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds;
• producing less than 20 percent by volume of carbon dioxide in the reaction products based upon the total volume;
• and
• recovering said C.sub.3 to C.sub.8 hydrocarbon and oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds.