Method for purifying contaminated polyethylene

A method for purifying reclaimed polyethylene comprising:

• a. obtaining the reclaimed polyethylene wherein said reclaimed polyethylene is selected from the group consisting of post-consumer use polymers, post-industrial use polymers, and combinations thereof;
• b. contacting the reclaimed polyethylene at a temperature from about 80° C. to about 220° C. and at a pressure from about 150 psig (1.03 MPa) to about 15,000 psig (103.42 MPa) with a first fluid solvent having a standard boiling point less than about 70° C., to produce an extracted reclaimed polyethylene;
• c. dissolving the extracted reclaimed polyethylene in a solvent selected from the group consisting of the first fluid solvent, a second fluid solvent, and mixtures thereof, at a temperature from about 90° C. to about 220° C. and a pressure from about 350 psig (2.41 MPa) to about 20,000 psig (137.90 MPa) to produce a polyethylene solution;
• d. purifying said polyethylene solution at a temperature from about 90° C. to about 220° C. and at a pressure from about 350 psig (2.41 MPa) to about 20,000 psig (137.90 MPa) by contacting said polyethylene solution with solid media to produce a purer polyethylene solution;
• and
• e. separating a purer polyethylene from said purer polyethylene solution;
• wherein said second fluid solvent has the same chemical composition as or a different chemical composition than the first fluid solvent.