The present invention relates to new urethanases for the enzymatic breakdown of polyurethanes and to an enzymatic process for the complete breakdown of polyurethanes into defined monomers.

A process is provided, by means of which polyurethanes, which have been formed from polyether polyols and aromatic isocyanates, can be decomposed to polyether polyols and aromatic amines.

The present invention relates to new urethanases for the enzymatic breakdown of polyurethanes and to an enzymatic process for the complete breakdown of polyurethanes into defined monomers.

The invention relates to a method for cleaving polyurethane products, having the steps of (A) providing a polyurethane product which is based on isocyanate components and a polyol component; (B) reacting the polyurethane product with a monofunctional araliphatic alcohol in the presence of an alcoholysis catalyst, thereby obtaining a product mixture containing a liquid polyol phase and a solid carbamate of an isocyanate of the isocyanate component and the monofunctional araliphatic alcohol; and (C) separating the carbamate from the product mixture, thereby leaving the liquid polyol phase.

A process is provided, by means of which polyurethanes, which have been formed from polyether polyols and aromatic isocyanates, can be decomposed to polyether polyols and aromatic amines.

The present invention relates to new urethanases for the enzymatic breakdown of polyurethanes and to an enzymatic process for the complete breakdown of polyurethanes into defined monomers.

The invention relates to novel urethanases for the enzymatic degradation of polyurethanes and to an enzymatic process for the complete degradation of polyurethanes in defined monomers.