Glycolysis of waste flexible polyurethane foam

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 80; no. 1; pp. 103 - 111
• Main Authors: Wu, Chao-Hsiung, Chang, Ching-Yuan, Cheng, Chien-Min, Huang, Hung-Chang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Glycolysis; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polyurethane; Recycling; Technology of polymers; Waste cars; Waste treatment; Glycolysis; Recycling; Waste cars; Polyurethane; Scrap polymer; Conversion rate; Waste treatment; Chemical degradation; Experimental study; Optimization; Foam(plastics); Processing parameter; Kinetic parameter; Polyol; Degradation product
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/S0141-3910(02)00390-7

Glycolysis of flexible polyurethane (PU) was investigated to provide useful data for the recycling of waste cars. The glycolysis experiments were performed under atmospheric pressure and isothermal condition (220 °C). Diethylene glycol (DEG) and potassium acetate (KAc) were used as solvent and catalyst, respectively. The properties of glycolysis products were determined by analyzing the hydroxyl value, weight average molecular weight (
M
w), viscosity, and the conversion (X) of the –NCOO– functional group in PU. The results indicate that the adequate concentrations of DEG and KAc are about 150 and 1% of the mass of the PU and an adequate reaction time is 90 min. Purification experiments on the glycolysis products were carried out in a stirred flask with a shell and tube condenser. The distilled materials were collected at the gas-phase temperature ranges of <245, 245–260, 260–275, 275–290, and >290 °C. The polyol-containing products are mostly in the temperature range of 245–260 °C. The recovery of polyol-containing products can be achieved by the distillation of glycolysis products.