Recycling of articles comprising hydroxy-phenoxyether polymers
AssigneeAdvanced Plastics Technologies, Ltd.
InventorsRobert A. Lee, Gerald A. Hutchinson, Basharat A. Nazir
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are methods of recycling the components of composite articles and materials comprising hydroxy-phenoxyether polymers to facilitate reuse of such components. The recycling methods comprise dissolution of the hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer in an acidic solution which is separated from the other components which formed the composite article or material. The hydroxy-phenoxyether polymers may be reused as the acidic solution, or they may be precipitated by addition of a base prior to reuse.
Claims20
A method of obtaining recycled hydroxy-phenoxyether polymers from articles comprising hydroxy-phenoxyether polymers, comprising:
- providing an article comprising a hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer;
- contacting the article with an aqueous solution comprising 1-50% acid by weight to at least partially dissolve the hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer to form an acidic hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution;
- separating the acidic hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution from any solids present;
- adding a base to the acidic hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution to form a hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer precipitate;
- and
- separating the hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer precipitate.
A method of isolating a hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer from a composite material, comprising:
- providing a composite material wherein the composite material comprises hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer;
- contacting the composite material with an aqueous solution having a pH below about pH 4 to form dissolved hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer and solid material, wherein the solid material comprises undissolved composite material;
- separating the dissolved hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer from the solid material;
- adding a base to the dissolved hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer in a quantity sufficient to raise the pH to at least pH 6, thereby forming hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer precipitate;
- and
- isolating the hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer precipitate.
A method of recycling barrier containers comprising polyethylene terephthalate and hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer, comprising:
- processing the barrier containers into smaller pieces;
- contacting the pieces with an aqueous solution having a pH below about pH 4, thereby forming a mixture comprising acidic hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution and polyethylene terephthalate pieces;
- separating the polyethylene terephthalate pieces from the acidic hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution;
- precipitating the acidic hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution by adding an alkaline material until the pH has been raised to at least pH 6;
- and
- isolating the hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer precipitate.
A method of recycling articles comprising cellulose fiber and hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer, comprising:
- contacting the article with an aqueous solution having a pH below about pH 4, thereby forming a mixture comprising aqueous hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer and cellulose fiber;
- separating the cellulose fiber from the aqueous hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer;
- raising the pH of the aqueous hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer to at least pH 6, thereby precipitating at least some of the hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer;
- and
- isolating the precipitated hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer.
A method of obtaining recycled hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution from articles comprising hydroxy-phenoxyether polymers, comprising:
- providing an article comprising a hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer;
- contacting the article with an aqueous solution having a pH below about pH 4 to at least partially dissolve the hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer to form an acidic hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution;
- and
- separating the acidic hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution from any solids or other materials present to isolate the hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.