Process for recovering monomeric units of a nylon from whole carpet

摘要

The invention relates to a process for recovering monomeric units of a nylon from carpet material. The carpet material includes fibres containing nylon bound to a backing containing one or more non-nylon components. The carpet material contains between 15 and 35 wt. % of the nylon. The process includes: a) mechanically separating the carpet material into an enriched carpet mixture containing between 35 and 55 wt. % of said nylon and into a depleted carpet mixture having a lower content of nylon than the carpet material; and b) exposing the enriched carpet mixture to conditions at which depolymerization of the nylon is effected.