Degradable polymers, including polyurethane and polyurethane-urea compositions, that can be used in aqueous, non-aqueous and dry hot environments as degradable polymers in oil, gas and other applications.

Upcycling process for producing acidic, end-equilibrated siloxanes bearing acetoxy groups and having chain lengths of greater than 3 silicon atoms from end-of-life silicones by thermal digestion in an acidic reaction medium comprising acetic anhydride, acetic acid and at least one further Brønsted acid having a pKa of <4, the digestion taking place in a reactor having a volume of at least 1 liter.

This application relates, in part, to novel salts represented by the following structure of Formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1a is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl (e.g., unsubstituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl, e.g., —CH.sub.3); R.sup.1b is optionally substituted alkyl (e.g., unsubstituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl, e.g., —CH.sub.3); each occurrence of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, and optionally substituted aryl; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can combine with each other to form optionally substituted cycloalkyl; each m and n is independently an integer ranging from 1 to 20 (e.g., m and n is independently an integer ranging from 1 to 5); and each of Q.sup.1⊖ and Q.sup.2⊖ is independently a counterion (e.g., each of Q.sup.1⊖ and Q.sup.2⊖ is independently a counterion selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, acetate, carboxylate, hydrogen sulfate, nitrate, and phenolate, and sulfonate, e.g., chloride), and methods of making the same.

This application relates, in part, to novel salts represented by the following structure of Formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1a is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl (e.g., unsubstituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl, e.g., —CH.sub.3); R.sup.1b is optionally substituted alkyl (e.g., unsubstituted C.sub.1-6 alkyl, e.g., —CH.sub.3); each occurrence of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, and optionally substituted aryl; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can combine with each other to form optionally substituted cycloalkyl; each m and n is independently an integer ranging from 1 to 20 (e.g., m and n is independently an integer ranging from 1 to 5); and each of Q.sup.1⊖ and Q.sup.2⊖ is independently a counterion (e.g., each of Q.sup.1⊖ and Q.sup.2⊖ is independently a counterion selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, acetate, carboxylate, hydrogen sulfate, nitrate, and phenolate, and sulfonate, e.g., chloride), and methods of making the same.

An epoxy resin component(s) for a recyclable epoxy resin system is disclosed. The recyclable epoxy resin system comprises an epoxy resin component having a structural Formula I or an epoxy resin component having a structural Formula II and a curing agent. A process(es) for preparing the epoxy resin component having the structural Formula I and the epoxy resin system having the structural Formula II is also disclosed.

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.

The invention relates to a process of preparing a glycolide product from methyl polyglycolate or its product. The process comprises depolymerizing the methyl polyglycolate or its product in the presence of a depolymerization agent to make a depolymerized product; repolymerizing the depolymerized product to make a glycolic acid oligomer; and pyrolyzing the repolymerized mixture to make a glycolide product. A rare earth metal catalyst may be used facilitate the depolymerization reaction. The glycolide pyrolysis conversion rate may be greater than 90%. Also provided are related glycolide product and the glycolic acid oligomer. The glycolic acid oligomer may have a weight average molecular weight of 4,000-80,000.

The invention relates to a process of preparing a glycolide product from methyl polyglycolate or its product. The process comprises depolymerizing the methyl polyglycolate or its product in the presence of a depolymerization agent to make a depolymerized product; repolymerizing the depolymerized product to make a glycolic acid oligomer; and pyrolyzing the repolymerized mixture to make a glycolide product. A rare earth metal catalyst may be used facilitate the depolymerization reaction. The glycolide pyrolysis conversion rate may be greater than 90%. Also provided are related glycolide product and the glycolic acid oligomer. The glycolic acid oligomer may have a weight average molecular weight of 4,000-80,000.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for recovering fibers from fiber reinforced polymers wherein the fiber reinforced polymer is contacted with a Lewis base for a time sufficient to allow at least partial depolymerization of the polymer.