A process of degrading nitrile rubbers comprises subjecting them to a metathesis reaction in the presence of specific catalysts with increased activity.

The renewed rubber of this invention can be used in rubber formulations that are used in manufacturing a wide array of rubber products, including tires, power transmission belts, conveyor belts, hoses, and a wide array of other products. The present invention more specifically discloses a method for manufacturing an environmentally friendly, chemically functionalized, renewed rubber composition having a highly desirable combination of physical properties and which exhibits excellent processability comprising the steps of (1) blending a micronized rubber powder with a processing aid and a chemical functionalizing agent to produce a blended mixture; (2) processing the blended mixture under conditions of high shear and low temperature to produce a reacted mixture; (3) adding a stabilizer to the reacted mixture to produce the chemically functionalized renewed rubber composition.

The renewed rubber of this invention can be used in rubber formulations that are used in manufacturing a wide array of rubber products, including tires, power transmission belts, conveyor belts, hoses, and a wide array of other products. The present invention more specifically discloses a method for manufacturing an environmentally friendly, chemically functionalized, renewed rubber composition having a highly desirable combination of physical properties and which exhibits excellent processability comprising the steps of (1) blending a micronized rubber powder with a processing aid and a chemical functionalizing agent to produce a blended mixture; (2) processing the blended mixture under conditions of high shear and low temperature to produce a reacted mixture; (3) adding a stabilizer to the reacted mixture to produce the chemically functionalized renewed rubber composition.

A method for producing devulcanized rubber and an apparatus (100) therefor. The method for producing devulcanized rubber comprises the steps of (1) providing vulcanized rubber particles with a pre-determined particle size and (2) devulcanizing the vulcanized rubber particles. The vulcanized rubber particles are devulcanized mechanically by impact forces and devulcanized chemically by a chemical composition. The impact forces break sulphur-sulphur and sulphur-carbon bonds of the vulcanized rubber particles causing surfaces of the rubber to become receptive in reacting with the chemical composition and the chemical composition renders the sulphur passive to prevent reattachment of the bonds, of which the chemical composition comprises at least one accelerator, at least one inorganic activator and at least one organic activator.

A method for producing devulcanized rubber and an apparatus (100) therefor. The method for producing devulcanized rubber comprises the steps of (1) providing vulcanized rubber particles with a pre-determined particle size and (2) devulcanizing the vulcanized rubber particles. The vulcanized rubber particles are devulcanized mechanically by impact forces and devulcanized chemically by a chemical composition. The impact forces break sulphur-sulphur and sulphur-carbon bonds of the vulcanized rubber particles causing surfaces of the rubber to become receptive in reacting with the chemical composition and the chemical composition renders the sulphur passive to prevent reattachment of the bonds, of which the chemical composition comprises at least one accelerator, at least one inorganic activator and at least one organic activator.

A method for producing devulcanized rubber and an apparatus (100) therefor. The method for producing devulcanized rubber comprises the steps of (1) providing vulcanized rubber particles with a pre-determined particle size and (2) devulcanizing the vulcanized rubber particles. The vulcanized rubber particles are devulcanized mechanically by impact forces and devulcanized chemically by a chemical composition. The impact forces break sulphur-sulphur and sulphur-carbon bonds of the vulcanized rubber particles causing surfaces of the rubber to become receptive in reacting with the chemical composition and the chemical composition renders the sulphur passive to prevent reattachment of the bonds, of which the chemical composition comprises at least one accelerator, at least one inorganic activator and at least one organic activator.

This invention relates to a method for producing functionalised telechelic oligomers, comprising two steps. The first step relates to bringing a raw material comprising at least one high-molecular-weight polymer comprising at least two unsaturations, into contact with a solution comprising at least one metathesis catalyst and at least one functionalising agent. The second step relates to the separation of the functionalised telechelic oligomers produced by the metathesis reaction in ionic liquid medium of the first step.

Provided is a method of decomposing a crosslinked rubber that includes: a first decomposition step of decomposing a crosslinked rubber containing a diene rubber, using a catalyst represented by the following general formula (1), (2), or (3), where M is ruthenium, molybdenum, or the like, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, and L.sup.3 each independently represent a ligand, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 each independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, or the like (these groups may be substituted by one or more alkyl groups, halogens, alkoxy groups, or the like), L.sup.1 and L.sup.2, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, and L.sup.1 and R.sup.1 may respectively bond with each other to form rings; and a second decomposition step of pyrolyzing a decomposition product obtained by the first decomposition step at a temperature of 300 C. to 950 C. in the presence of a catalyst.

Provided is a method of decomposing a crosslinked rubber that includes: a first decomposition step of decomposing a crosslinked rubber containing a diene rubber, using a catalyst represented by the following general formula (1), (2), or (3), where M is ruthenium, molybdenum, or the like, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, and L.sup.3 each independently represent a ligand, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 each independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, or the like (these groups may be substituted by one or more alkyl groups, halogens, alkoxy groups, or the like), L.sup.1 and L.sup.2, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, and L.sup.1 and R.sup.1 may respectively bond with each other to form rings; and a second decomposition step of pyrolyzing a decomposition product obtained by the first decomposition step at a temperature of 300 C. to 950 C. in the presence of a catalyst.

A process comprising (a) providing a feedstock that includes carbonaceous materials; (b) gasifying the feedstock to produce a gaseous stream including carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide; (c) converting at least a portion of the carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide to butanediol; and (d) converting at least a portion of the butanediol to butadiene monomer