Process for depolymerization of polyacrylonitrile.

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for depolymerizing polyacrylonitrile into water soluble products, including ammonia and lower molecular weight carbonaceous materials by contacting the starting materials, polyacrylonitrile, and neutral, hot liquid water at a temperature from about 200 DEG C up to the critical temperature of water at autogenous pressure. The present invention has utility as a means for degrading polyacrylonitrile without producing toxic hydrogen cyanide as a by-product.