PROCESS FOR RECYCLING POLYMERS HAVING REPEATING ETHER LINKAGES

摘要

The present invention is a process for converting high molecular weight essentially water insoluble polymers having repeating or multiple ether linkages in the polymer backbone into their corresponding alcohols and other monomeric and lower weight oligomeric units by forming an aqueous mixture of the polymer in a ratio by weight of liquid water to polymer of at least 1:1, preferably neutral water, and heating the mixture under autogeneous pressure at a temperature of from about 200 DEG C to about the critical temperature of water (374 DEG C), more preferably from about 200 DEG C up to about 350 DEG C. Heating is continued for a period of time sufficient to depolymerize the polymer, depending on temperature and the amount of water present, and the number of polymeric ether linkages in the feedstock, and the amount of conversion desired.