Systems and methods for polystyrene foam recycling using branched dibasic esters

摘要

Methods and systems for reducing the volume of polystyrene foam wherein a foam reducing agent is applied to the foam, the foam reducing agent in some embodiments comprising a branched dibasic ester blend.

主权项

1. A method for reducing the volume of polystyrene foam comprising the steps of:
contacting a volume reducing agent to polystyrene foam, wherein the volume reducing agent comprises a dibasic ester blend comprising a dialkyl methylglutarate and a dialkyl ethylsuccinate, wherein the blend comprises, by weight of the blend:
(i) from about 80% to about 92% of dialkyl methylglutarate, and(ii) from about 3% to about 20% of dialkyl ethylsuccinate, whereby the volume reduction agent is capable of collapsing a polystyrene cell to form a compact gel material.