Reactor for treating polystyrene material

Abstract

A system for continuously treating recycled polystyrene material includes a hopper / densifier configured to feed recycled polystyrene material into the system. An extruder can turn the recycled polystyrene material into a molten material. In some embodiments the extruder uses thermal fluids, electric heaters, and / or a separate heater. Solvents, such as toluene, xylenes, cymenes, and / or terpinenes can aid in generating the molten material. The molten material can be depolymerized in a reactor and a catalyst can be used to aid the depolymerizing. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is containedin a permeable container. In some embodiments, copolymers / monomers are grafted onto the depolymerized material. The depolymerized molten material can be cooled via a heat exchanger. The product can beisolated by extraction, distillation, and / or separation. In some embodiments, the product is treated through filtration and absorption media. In some embodiments, multiple reactors are used.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 401,830, entitled "Reactor for Treating Polystyrene Material," filed September 29, 2017. The '830 application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. field of invention [0003] The present invention relates to a method of assembling a reactor for processing polystyrene material and using the reactor for processing polystyrene material. Background technique [0004] Polystyrene is one of the fastest growing solid wastes. Other polystyrenes are not biodegradable, leading to their accumulation in nature. The vast majority of polystyrene waste is usually either landfilled or incinerated. The former leads to material loss and land waste, while the latter leads to the emission of greenhouse gases. Currently only a small fraction of polystyrene waste is being recycled (at a rate of less than 5% in North America and Euro...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Existing conversion processes are inefficient and can release greenhouse gases and / or volatile aromatic compounds into the environment

In addition, the current technology may be sensitive to the quality and quantity of polystyrene feed, which may have an impact on the final product quality

This is especially troublesome since polystyrene sources can vary in their consistency due to differences in plastic grades and applications

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