A composition comprising a Lewis base containing depolymerization liquid and methods of using the Lewis base depolymerization liquid to depolymerize the polymer component of fiber reinforced polymers to form free fibers.

A composition comprising a Lewis base containing depolymerization liquid and methods of using the Lewis base depolymerization liquid to depolymerize the polymer component of fiber reinforced polymers to form free fibers.

A method for synthesising polymers through devulcanisation from waste containing elastomers, the method including: —a) contacting the waste containing elastomers with a solvent in the presence of a devulcanisation agent, b) heating the mixture produced in step a), at a temperature of between 20° C. and 250° C. for a period of between 15 minutes and 24 hours in the presence of a devulcanisation agent, the concentration of devulcanisation agent, and the ratio between the concentration of devulcanisation agent, expressed as parts per hundred of elastomer (phr) and a volume of solvent, expressed in ml, is: greater than 0.3 phr/ml of solvent or less than 0.2 phr/ml of solvent when the method is carried out in air, greater than 0.06 phr/ml of solvent when the method is carried out in an inert atmosphere.

A method for synthesising polymers through devulcanisation from waste containing elastomers, the method including: —a) contacting the waste containing elastomers with a solvent in the presence of a devulcanisation agent, b) heating the mixture produced in step a), at a temperature of between 20° C. and 250° C. for a period of between 15 minutes and 24 hours in the presence of a devulcanisation agent, the concentration of devulcanisation agent, and the ratio between the concentration of devulcanisation agent, expressed as parts per hundred of elastomer (phr) and a volume of solvent, expressed in ml, is: greater than 0.3 phr/ml of solvent or less than 0.2 phr/ml of solvent when the method is carried out in air, greater than 0.06 phr/ml of solvent when the method is carried out in an inert atmosphere.

Systems and methods are provided that involve a subcritical water reaction to recycle the cellulose and polyester components of waste cotton and cotton/polyester blend textiles that would otherwise be discarded or disposed of. Specifically, the disclosed methods provide for treatment of the waste textiles to produce advanced materials including cellulose and terephthalic acid (TPA) with a low environmental impact. The cellulose and TPA that are produced are of a high quality allowing for production of regenerated cellulose and regenerated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) suitable for fiber spinning and textile applications.

Systems and methods are provided that involve a subcritical water reaction to recycle the cellulose and polyester components of waste cotton and cotton/polyester blend textiles that would otherwise be discarded or disposed of. Specifically, the disclosed methods provide for treatment of the waste textiles to produce advanced materials including cellulose and terephthalic acid (TPA) with a low environmental impact. The cellulose and TPA that are produced are of a high quality allowing for production of regenerated cellulose and regenerated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) suitable for fiber spinning and textile applications.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

A depolymerization reaction of a polyester input with an organocatalyst and an alcohol solvent produces (i) a recycled monomeric or oligomeric diester from the polyester, (ii) the organocatalyst for reuse, and (iii) the alcohol solvent, which may also be reused. The presence of volatile impurities, such as water, acetyl aldehyde, and organic solvents can interfere with the success of the depolymerization reaction. A pre-reaction distillation step removes volatile impurities from the polyester input resulting in an efficient depolymerization reaction with consistency among batches. The polyester input may be further treated with a water azeotrope to remove water from the polyester input prior to the pre-reaction distillation.

A depolymerization reaction of a polyester input with an organocatalyst and an alcohol solvent produces (i) a recycled monomeric or oligomeric diester from the polyester, (ii) the organocatalyst for reuse, and (iii) the alcohol solvent, which may also be reused. The presence of volatile impurities, such as water, acetyl aldehyde, and organic solvents can interfere with the success of the depolymerization reaction. A pre-reaction distillation step removes volatile impurities from the polyester input resulting in an efficient depolymerization reaction with consistency among batches. The polyester input may be further treated with a water azeotrope to remove water from the polyester input prior to the pre-reaction distillation.

Polyester-free cotton is obtained from a fabric and/or fibers containing polyester and cotton by reacting the fabric and/or fibers with an amine organocatalyst and/or carboxylic acid salt of same and an alcohol solvent. The reaction, which may be run in batches or as a continuous flow process, recovers (i) polyester-free cotton as a solid inert by-product of the reaction, (ii) the amine organocatalyst and/or carboxylic acid salt of same for reuse, (iii) a polyester monomer product, and (iv) unreacted alcohol. The reaction works on any polyester-cotton fabric and/or fibers, including those that have at least one additional material, such as polyethers polyolefins, polyurethanes, nylon, rayon, acetate, viscose, modal, acrylic, wool, and combinations thereof.