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.

Thermosetting plastics are recycled by process that begins with grinding the plastic into small pieces. This particulate is then mixed with a catalyst and ball mill milled to a fine powder, which can then be reprocessed via molding (e.g., hot-press, injection, etc.).

Thermosetting plastics are recycled by process that begins with grinding the plastic into small pieces. This particulate is then mixed with a catalyst and ball mill milled to a fine powder, which can then be reprocessed via molding (e.g., hot-press, injection, etc.).

A method may include processing a crosslinked polymer and a catalyst to form a vitrimer during a melt processing operation, the crosslinked polymer comprising at least one monomer selected from a vinyl ester, a C2-C12 olefin, and combinations thereof. A method may include mixing a crosslinked polymer, a catalyst, and a non-crosslinked polymer at a temperature higher than a processing temperature of the non-crosslinked polymer to form a polymer composition; wherein each of the crosslinked polymer and the non-crosslinked polymer comprise at least one monomer selected from a vinyl ester, a C2-C12 olefin, and combinations thereof, and wherein the crosslinked polymer is present in an amount that is at least 15 wt %, relative to the combined total of crosslinked polymer and non-crosslinked polymer.

A method may include processing a crosslinked polymer and a catalyst to form a vitrimer during a melt processing operation, the crosslinked polymer comprising at least one monomer selected from a vinyl ester, a C2-C12 olefin, and combinations thereof. A method may include mixing a crosslinked polymer, a catalyst, and a non-crosslinked polymer at a temperature higher than a processing temperature of the non-crosslinked polymer to form a polymer composition; wherein each of the crosslinked polymer and the non-crosslinked polymer comprise at least one monomer selected from a vinyl ester, a C2-C12 olefin, and combinations thereof, and wherein the crosslinked polymer is present in an amount that is at least 15 wt %, relative to the combined total of crosslinked polymer and non-crosslinked polymer.

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 process for the recycling of silicones, especially silicone rubber and/or silicone oils, by the chemical transformation thereof to silanes and/or siloxanes having acetoxy groups is described, wherein silicone rubber and/or silicone oils are subjected to a heat treatment in digestion systems comprising acetic anhydride and/or acetoxysiloxane, and at least one Brønsted acid, with addition of acetic acid.

A process for the recycling of silicones, especially silicone rubber and/or silicone oils, by the chemical transformation thereof to silanes and/or siloxanes having acetoxy groups is described, wherein silicone rubber and/or silicone oils are subjected to a heat treatment in digestion systems comprising acetic anhydride and/or acetoxysiloxane, and at least one Brønsted acid, with addition of acetic acid.

Disclosed is a preparation method of a renewable epoxy asphalt material and a regeneration process. The preparation method comprises: I Vanillin and 4-aminophenol are reacted in water with stirring to obtain VAN-AP; II. VAN-AP is mixed with epichlorohydrin, to which tetrabutylammonium bromide is added and heated at 80 to 90° C. for reaction; sodium hydroxide solution is then added dropwise for reaction; the mixture is concentrated to obtain GE-VAN-AP; III. Preheated asphalt is mixed with a polyetheramine curing agent and a polyetheramine accelerator to form component A; GE-VAN-AP is melted as component B; the component A is evenly mixed with the component B to obtain a renewable epoxy asphalt material. During the regeneration, the resin phase structure in the epoxy asphalt is gradually depolymerized, whereby asphalt regenerant is used to restore the properties of the aged asphalt phase and reshape the resin phase structure to complete the regeneration.