PROCESS FOR DECOMPOSING A POLYMER TO ITS MONOMER OR MONOMERS

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB97/02032 Sec. 371 Date May 19, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date May 19, 1999 PCT Filed Jul. 25, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/04599 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 5, 1998A process for decomposing a polymer which is capable of undergoing thermal depolymerization to its monomer or monomers, such as for example poly(methylmethacrylate), and for the recovery of at least one of the monomers, includes the steps of subjecting the polymer in solid, gel, partially molten or molten form to microwave heating for a time and at a temperature sufficient to decompose the polymer to produce the monomer or monomers in gaseous, liquid or solid form, without substantial decomposition of the monomer or monomers, and recovering at least one of the monomer or monomers. The monomer or monomers may then be reused for plymerisation.