Method for recovering raw materials from polyurethane products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for recovering raw materials from a polyurethane product, the method comprising the steps of: (A) preparing a polyurethane product made from an isocyanate component and a polyol component; (B) reacting the polyurethane product with a (monohydric or polyhydric) alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a first product mixture; (C) obtaining a polyol from the first product mixture, the step comprising (C) (C.I) combining the first product mixture obtained in step (B) with an organic solvent that is not completely miscible with the alcohol used in step (B) without prior removal of water that may be contained in the first product mixture, and carrying out phase separation into a first alcohol phase and a first solvent phase; (C.II) treating the first solvent phase to obtain a polyol; and preferably (D) obtaining an amine.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The project leading to this application has been funded as part of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 814543.

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for recovering raw materials from a polyurethane product, comprising the steps of (A) preparing a polyurethane product based on isocyanate and polyol, (B) reacting the polyurethane product with a (monohydric or polyhydric) alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a first product mixture, (C) (CI) combining the first product mixture obtained in step (B) with an organic solvent that is not completely miscible with the alcohol used in step (B) without prior removal of the water present in the first product mixture and carrying out phase separation into a first alcohol phase and a first solvent phase, (C.II) working up the first solvent phase to recover the polyol, and preferably (D) recovering the amine. [Background technology]

[0003] Polyurethane products have a wide variety of applications in industry and in everyday life. A distinction is usually made between polyurethane foams and so-called "CASE" products, the latter being a general term for polyurethane coatings (e.g. paints), adhesives, sealants and elastomers. Polyurethane foams are usually divided into rigid and flexible foams. Despite their diversity, all these products have in common the basic polyurethane structure, which is formed by the polyaddition reaction of (multifunctional) isocyanates (i.e. the isocyanate component of the polyurethane product) with polyols (i.e. the polyol component of the polyurethane product), e.g. in the case of polyurethanes based on diisocyanates O=C=NRN=C=O and diols HO-R'-OH (where R and R' represent organic radicals): ~~~[O-R'-O-(O=C)-HN-R-NH-(C=O)]~~~ It can be expressed as:

[0004] Due to the great economic success of polyurethane products, large amounts of polyurethane waste are generated (e.g. from old mattresses or seated furniture), which need to be used rationally. The technically easiest recycling method to implement is incineration, where the heat of combustion released is utilized in other processes, for example industrial production processes. However, this method does not allow the completion of the raw material loop. Another recycling method is called "physical recycling", where polyurethane waste is mechanically comminuted and used to manufacture new products. This recycling method has clear limitations, so attempts to recover the raw materials that are the basis for polyurethane production by re-cleaving the polyurethane bonds (called "chemical recycling") do not disappear. These raw materials to be recovered mainly include polyols (i.e., in the above example, HO-R'-OH). In addition, it is also possible to recover amines by hydrolytic cleavage of the urethane bonds (i.e., in the above example, H2N-R-NH2), which can be phosgenated after workup to form isocyanates (in the above example, to form O=C=NRN=C=O).

[0005] A variety of chemical recycling approaches have been developed so far. The three most important can be briefly summarized as follows: 1. Hydrolysis of urethane by reaction with water. Amines and polyols are recovered and carbon dioxide is formed. 2. Glycolysis of urethanes by reaction with alcohols. The polyol incorporated in the urethane group is released by replacing it with the alcohol used. This process is commonly referred to in the literature as transesterification (more correctly, transurethanization). Regardless of the exact nature of the alcohol used, this method of chemical recycling is usually referred to in the literature as glycolysis, a term that in fact applies only to glycols. Therefore, in the present invention, the term alcoholysis is used in general. 3. Hydroglycolysis of the urethane bond by reaction with water and alcohol. The above hydrolysis and glycolysis processes are carried out in parallel.

[0006] An overview of the known methods of polyurethane recycling is given in a review by Friedrich Schmidt, 1999. In this paper, it is emphasized that glycolysis (2. above) is of particular importance. In glycolysis, a distinction is made between a two-phase regime and a single-phase regime, depending on whether the resulting crude process product of the reaction with alcohol is separated into two phases or not. This depends in particular on the choice of the alcohol used and on the process conditions (in particular the proportion of alcohol used in the reaction mixture, and the temperature). In the aforementioned review, the two-phase regime using crude glycerol (e.g. a waste product from biodiesel production) is preferred, since it offers the greatest possibility of recovering a high-quality product at low production costs (with an obvious focus on the recovery of polyols).

[0007] Due to the additional use of water, the process product of hydroglycolysis (3. above) is always two-phase. Non-Patent Document 2 describes the work-up of this type of process product, which includes removal of water (either by phase separation on a laboratory scale or by evaporation in a process recommended for industrial use called the "Ford hydroglycolysis process") and extraction of the remaining organic phase with hexadecane, forming an alcohol phase from which the amines can be recovered and a hexadecane phase from which the polyols can be recovered. The option of amine recovery is mentioned, but the emphasis in this paper is also on polyol recovery.

[0008] A process based on these principles has been patented in US Pat. No. 5,399,633, which describes a process for recovering polyether polyols from polyurethanes by the following steps: (a) forming a solution by dissolving the polyurethane in a saturated alcohol having a boiling point of 225° C. to 280° C. at a temperature of 185° C. to 220° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; (b) reacting the solution with water in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst in a non-oxidizing atmosphere while maintaining the solution at a temperature of 175° C. to 220° C. for a time required for most of the hydrolyzable dissolution products to hydrolyze to form amines and alcohols, the alkali metal hydroxide catalyst being added to the solution in an amount in the range of at least 0.1 weight percent based on the weight of the polyurethane foam; (c) removing from the solution any water remaining after hydrolysis under a non-oxidizing atmosphere; (d) extracting the polyol from the hydrolysis solution under a non-oxidizing atmosphere with an alkane, particularly hexadecane, which is substantially immiscible with the alcohol and has a boiling point between 230° C. and 300° C.; and (e) subjecting the extracted polyol to vacuum purification at a temperature below 230°C.

[0009] In step (a), polyurethane is reacted with the alcohol groups of saturated alcohols to form polyols, ureas and carbamates (see column 3, lines 42-46). Step (a) is therefore a glycolysis (or more precisely alcoholysis).

[0010] In step (b), water and an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst are added to the solution obtained in step (a) either separately or in the form of an aqueous catalytic solution, to decompose the carbamates and ureas into amines and alcohols. Thus, since step (b) is a hydrolysis, steps (a) and (b) as a whole can be interpreted as a hydroglycolysis (more precisely, hydroalcoholysis) with staggered addition of alcohol and water. Water is added in an amount such that the solution boils at a temperature between 175°C and 200°C. When the alcohol is diethylene glycol, water is added in an amount between 2.4% and 0.6%, preferably 1.1%, of the mass of diethylene glycol used (see column 4, lines 39-46). The water consumed in the hydrolysis is compensated for by the addition of more water to keep the water content constant. After the hydrolysis, the water used must be removed in step (c) before the extraction in step (e) (column 5, lines 31-33).

[0011] Of the chemical recycling processes known from the literature, only a few are operated sustainably on an industrial scale, and many have not even reached pilot scale (Non-Patent Document 1). In light of the general increase in environmental awareness and the further efforts to put industrial processes on a sustainable basis as much as possible, both of which are fundamentally in favor of chemical recycling, it is clear that chemical recycling of polyurethane products is not yet fully developed from a technical and economic point of view. There are challenges in particular with regard to the purity of the recovered products. Polyols need to be recovered as free as possible from amine impurities so that they do not adversely affect the foaming when reused, for example in the production of polyurethane foams. Similarly, if amine recovery is desired, the amines also need to be obtained of course with maximum purity. In addition, polyurethane products to be recycled usually contain various auxiliaries and adjuvants (stabilizers, catalysts, etc.), which need to be separated and disposed of in an economical and environmentally friendly way from the actual product to be recycled. Furthermore, an economical recycling process needs to ensure that the reagents used (e.g. the alcohols used) can be recovered as completely as possible and used again (i.e. circulated). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 4,336,406 [Non-patent literature]

[0013] [Non-Patent Document 1] Simon, Borreguero, Lucas and Rodriguez in Waste Management 2018, 76, 147 - 171 [Non-Patent Document 2] Braslaw and Gerlock in Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev. 1984, 23, 552 - 557 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] Therefore, further improvements were needed in the field of chemical recycling of polyurethane products. More specifically, it would be desirable to be able to recover polyols, and preferably also amines, from polyurethane products in a high purity and efficient manner, particularly in a manner that is economically desirable for industrial deployment. It would further be desirable to have an acceptable outlet from an economical and environmental point of view for the auxiliaries and adjuvants present in the polyurethane products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] One subject of the present invention that meets this need is (A) preparing a polyurethane product made from a (multifunctional) isocyanate (=isocyanate component) and a polyol (=polyol component); (B) reacting the polyurethane product with a (monohydric or polyhydric) alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to obtain (by cleavage of the urethane bonds) a first product mixture (containing polyols, carbamates and the alcohols used, optionally water and, depending in particular on the nature of the polyurethane product prepared in step (A), optionally amines, more particularly amines corresponding to isocyanates); (C) (CI) combining the first product mixture obtained in step (B) with an organic solvent that is not completely miscible with the alcohol used in step (B), without prior removal of the water present in the first product mixture, and carrying out a phase separation into a first alcohol phase (containing, in addition to the alcohol, the carbamate and any amines, more particularly the amines corresponding to the isocyanates) and a first solvent phase (containing the polyol); (C.II) working up the first solvent phase to recover polyol; a step of post-treating the first product mixture (=obtaining from the first product mixture a polyol (i.e. a polyol from which the polyurethane product is made and thus constituting its polyol component and / or a polyol optionally formed from the original polyol component in step (B)), comprising Optionally (and preferably), (D) a work-up step of the first alcoholic phase, which comprises a step of hydrolyzing the carbamate (= obtaining an amine from the first alcoholic phase or, in certain embodiments described below, from the second alcoholic phase to which the amine and / or carbamate present in the first alcoholic phase has been transferred), A method for recovering raw materials from a polyurethane product, comprising:

[0016] A polyurethane product in the sense of the present invention is a polyaddition product (sometimes, not entirely correctly, also called a polycondensation product) of a polyfunctional isocyanate (= isocyanate component of polyurethane production) and a polyol (= polyol component of polyurethane production). In addition to the basic polyurethane structure outlined above, a polyurethane product generally also contains other structures, such as, for example, structures with urea bonds. The presence of such structures in addition to the polyurethane structure, which deviate from the pure basic polyurethane structure, is not outside the scope of the present invention.

[0017] In the terminology of the present invention, the term isocyanate encompasses all isocyanates known to the person skilled in the art in connection with polyurethane chemistry, such as in particular tolylene diisocyanate (TDI; prepared from tolylene diamine (TDA)), di- and polyisocyanates of the diphenylmethane series (MDI; prepared from di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series (MDA)), pentane-1,5-diisocyanate (PDI; prepared from 1,5-pentanediamine (PDA)), hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate (HDI; prepared from 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HAD)), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI; prepared from isophorone diamine (IPDA)) and xylylene diisocyanate (XDI; prepared from xylylene diamine (XDA)). The term "isocyanate" naturally encompasses embodiments in which two or more different isocyanates (e.g., a mixture of MDI and TDI) are used in the preparation of the polyurethane product, unless expressly stated otherwise, e.g., using the phrase "exactly one isocyanate". This is true for one isocyanate family (and thus for example for different types of MDI). Collectively, all isocyanates used in the preparation of the polyurethane product are referred to as the isocyanate component of the polyurethane product. The isocyanate component comprises at least one isocyanate. Similarly, collectively, all polyols used in making the polyurethane product are referred to as the polyol component of the polyurethane product. The polyol component comprises at least one polyol.

[0018] Isocyanates in the terminology of the present invention are isocyanates with the same basic chemical structure, and differences in substitution patterns are not considered as deviations from the basic chemical structure in themselves. For example, TDI and MDI belong to different isocyanates, but their respective isomers do not belong to different isocyanates from each other. For example, all isomers of TDI (2,4-TDI and 2,6-TDI being the most important) belong to the same "TDI isocyanates", and similarly, all isomers of diisocyanates of the diphenylmethane series (2,4'-MDI and 4,4'-MDI being the most important) belong to the same "MDI isocyanates". MDI products with three or more "benzene rings" are also considered "MDI isocyanates". The same is true for amines.

[0019] In the terminology of the present invention, the term polyol includes all polyols known to the person skilled in the art in the context of polyurethane chemistry, such as, in particular, polyether polyols, polyester polyols, polyether ester polyols and polyether carbonate polyols. The expression "polyol" naturally also includes embodiments in which two or more different polyols are used in the preparation of the polyurethane product. This also applies to one polyol. In the following, for example, with reference to "polyether polyol" (or "polyester polyol", etc.), this terminology naturally also includes embodiments in which, for example, two or more different polyether polyols (or two or more different polyester polyols, etc.) are used in the preparation of the polyurethane product.

[0020] A carbamate in the terminology of this invention is a urethane formed by reaction with an alcohol in step (B).

[0021] An amine corresponding to an isocyanate refers to an amine by phosgenation from which an isocyanate can be obtained as follows: R-NH2+COCl2→RN=C=O+2HCl. Similarly, a nitro compound corresponding to an amine refers to a nitro compound by reduction from which an amine can be obtained as follows: R-NO2+3H2→R-NH2+2H2O.

[0022] The requirement of the present invention that the organic solvent used in step (CI) is not completely miscible with the alcohol used in step (B) means that under the conditions specified for step (CI) there must be a miscibility gap such that phase separation is possible.

[0023] The term impurities originating from polyurethane products in the context of the present invention refers to materials that cannot be recovered as polyols or amines in a chemical recycling operation, i.e. in particular auxiliaries and adjuvants (stabilizers, catalysts, polymer particles, etc.) from the manufacture of polyurethane products. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the method of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the method of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an amine preparation process that can be combined with step (D). [Figure 4] FIG. 1 shows one possible configuration of the amine preparation process and the combination of step (D). [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 shows another possible configuration of the amine preparation process and the combination of step (D). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] This is followed by first providing an overview of various possible embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] In a first embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with all other embodiments, step (C.II) comprises: (C.II.1) washing the first solvent phase with an aqueous wash solution and effecting phase separation into a second solvent phase (comprising the polyol), an emulsion phase (comprising the organic components, particularly the polyol, emulsified in the aqueous wash solution) and optionally the first aqueous phase; (C.II.2) working up the second solvent phase to recover the polyol; Includes.

[0027] In a second embodiment of the invention, which is a particular configuration of the first embodiment, step (C.II.2) comprises distillation and / or stripping with a stripping gas (for example, in particular nitrogen or steam, preferably nitrogen).

[0028] In a third embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the first and second embodiments, step (C.II) comprises: (C.II.3) The emulsion phase, (C.II.3.a) combining with an organic solvent (in particular the same as that used in step (B)) and carrying out a phase separation into a third solvent phase and a second aqueous phase (first variant of step (C.II.3)), or (C.II.3.b) combining the first alcohol phase (i.e. at least a part thereof, preferably the entire first alcohol phase) and the organic solvent (in particular the same as that used in step (B)) and carrying out a phase separation into a third solvent phase and a second alcohol phase (containing in addition to the alcohol a carbamate and any amines, in particular the amine corresponding to the isocyanate, i.e. preferably TDA, for example in the case where the isocyanate component contains TDI) (second variant of step (C.II.3)), (C.II.4) returning the third solvent phase to step (CI) or to step (C.II.1); Further includes.

[0029] A fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the first variant of the third embodiment, includes a step (D), (DIa) evaporating an alcohol fraction (optionally further containing additives from the polyurethane product and / or subsequent products of the catalyst used in step (B)) from the first alcohol phase obtained in step (CI) (optionally combined with removal of any organic solvent present in the alcohol phase before or after evaporation; the term "before or after" also encompasses the embodiment of solvent removal in which water and solvent are distilled into a common receiver and then separated from each other by phase separation) to leave a carbamate phase, (D.II.a) hydrolysis of the carbamate phase (optionally in the presence of a catalyst) with an aqueous phase (more specifically a wash aqueous phase; see below) to obtain an amine phase (=amine-water mixture; containing impurities originating from the polyurethane product), (D.III) recovering the amine corresponding to the isocyanate of the isocyanate component (e.g., preferably TDA when the isocyanate component comprises TDI) from the amine phase (=amine-water mixture); This is carried out in a first variant including:

[0030] A fifth embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the second variant of the third embodiment, includes a step (D): (DIb) hydrolyzing the second alcohol phase with an aqueous phase (optionally in the presence of a catalyst) to obtain an amine-water-alcohol mixture (containing impurities derived from the polyurethane product); (D.II.b) evaporating water from the amine-water-alcohol mixture (optionally together with removal of any organic solvent present in the amine-water-alcohol mixture before or after evaporation; where the term "before or after" also encompasses the embodiment of solvent removal in which water and solvent are distilled into a common receiver and then separated from each other by phase separation) to obtain an amine-alcohol mixture (containing impurities originating from the polyurethane product), followed by evaporation of an alcohol fraction (optionally further containing additives from the polyurethane product and / or downstream products of the catalyst used in step (B)) from the amine-alcohol mixture to leave an amine phase (containing impurities originating from the polyurethane product); (D.III) recovering an amine corresponding to the isocyanate of the isocyanate component (e.g., preferably TDA when the isocyanate component comprises TDI) from the amine phase; This is carried out in a second variant including:

[0031] In a sixth embodiment of the invention, which is a particular configuration of the fourth embodiment, the aqueous phase used in step (D.II.a) comprises the second aqueous phase obtained in step (C.II.3.a) (i.e. the wash aqueous phase from that step).

[0032] In a seventh embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the fourth to sixth embodiments, the phase separation in step (C.II.1) is carried out to obtain a first aqueous phase, and the aqueous phase used in step (D.II.a) or step (DIb) comprises this first aqueous phase.

[0033] In an eighth embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the fourth to seventh embodiments, the alcohol fraction obtained in step (DIa) or in step (D.II.b) is returned (optionally after purification) to step (B).

[0034] In a ninth embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the fourth to eighth embodiments, the method includes: (E) preparing a crude product fraction of an amine (not originating from any of steps (B) to (D) but instead from a (new) process for the preparation of an amine) which is the amine recovered in step (D.III) (i.e. in the example selected in the previous step (D.III) the preparation of a crude TDA product fraction), which crude product fraction contains not only the amine (in the selected example not only TDA) but also (at least) organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than the amine (in the selected example higher boiling point than TDA), wherein step (D.III) comprises: (D.III.1) mixing the amine phase (which in selected examples contains TDA) with a crude product fraction and working up the resulting mixture to obtain the amines present in the crude product fraction (i.e. TDA in selected examples) together with the amines (in selected examples also TDA) recovered from the amine phase (so that in the work-up the TDA originating from the polyurethane product is obtained together with the TDA originating from the crude product fraction), Includes.

[0035] In a tenth embodiment of the invention, which is a particular configuration of the ninth embodiment, a crude product fraction is taken from the bottom fraction of a distillation for purifying an amine present in the crude product fraction (in a selected case, a distillation for purifying TDA), and in step (D.III.1) a solid residue is additionally obtained (i.e. together with the amine present in the crude product fraction and the amine recovered from the amine phase, i.e. in a selected case, together with TDA) comprising organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than this amine (and impurities originating from the polyurethane product).

[0036] In an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, which is another specific configuration of the ninth embodiment, a crude product fraction is taken from the crude product of the process for preparing an amine, which is present in the crude product fraction and contains, in addition to organic impurities boiling higher than the amine (in selected cases higher than TDA), organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine (in selected cases more readily than TDA) and also water, and is fed to a distillation to remove the water, obtaining a bottoms fraction containing the amine (in selected cases TDA), organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine (in selected cases more readily than TDA) and organic impurities boiling higher than the amine (in selected cases higher than TDA), and also obtaining an overhead fraction containing the removed water (optionally together with a residual amount of organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine (and therefore in selected cases more readily than TDA)).

[0037] In a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the tenth and eleventh embodiments, step (E) comprises: (EI) catalytically hydrogenating, optionally in the presence of a solvent, a nitro compound (in selected cases, dinitrotoluene (DNT)) corresponding to an amine (in selected cases, TDA) present in a crude product fraction to obtain a crude product containing not only the amine (in selected cases, not only TDA), but also organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than the amine (in selected cases, higher boiling point than TDA), organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine (in selected cases, more readily than TDA), and water; (E.II) removing water from the crude product to obtain a water-depleted process product; (E.III) distilling the process product from which water has been lost to obtain a distillate fraction of the amine (i.e. the desired amine) (in selected examples, TDA) present in the crude product fraction and a bottoms fraction containing not only the amine (in selected examples, not only TDA) but also organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than the amine (in selected examples, higher boiling point than TDA); Includes.

[0038] In a thirteenth embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with all other embodiments, the isocyanate (i.e. the isocyanate forming the isocyanate component of the polyurethane product) is selected from the group consisting of tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), di- and polyisocyanates of the diphenylmethane series (MDI), pentane-1,5-diisocyanate (PDI), hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and xylylene diisocyanate (XDI) and mixtures of two or more of these isocyanates. More preferably, the isocyanate forming the isocyanate component of the polyurethane product is TDI (without other isocyanates different from it) or a mixture of TDI and MDI (without further isocyanates different from it).

[0039] In a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, which can be combined with all other embodiments, in step (CI), the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons (e.g., in particular, pentane, heptane, hexane, octane, nonane, decane, or dodecane), alicyclic hydrocarbons (e.g., in particular, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, methylcyclopentane, or cyclopentane), aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., in particular, benzene or toluene), and mixtures of two or more of these organic solvents, and The alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, methyl glycol, triethylene glycol, glycerol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, and mixtures of two or more of these alcohols.

[0040] In a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the fourteenth embodiment, the organic solvent comprises an aliphatic hydrocarbon, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, and / or an aromatic hydrocarbon, and the alcohol comprises ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, methyl glycol, and / or triethylene glycol.

[0041] In a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the fifteenth embodiment, the organic solvent comprises nonane, cyclohexane, and / or toluene (particularly nonane, cyclohexane, and / or toluene) and the alcohol comprises diethylene glycol (particularly diethylene glycol). Particularly preferred combinations are nonane / diethylene glycol and cyclohexane / diethylene glycol.

[0042] In a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention, which can be combined with all other embodiments, the catalyst in step (B) is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkali metal salts of carboxylic acids (especially acetates), alkaline earth metal salts of carboxylic acids (especially acetates), Lewis acids (e.g., especially dibutyltin dilaurate), organic amines (e.g., especially diethanolamine), organometallic compounds (e.g., especially titanium tetrabutoxide), and tin compounds (e.g., especially tin octoate).

[0043] In an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention, which may be combined with all other embodiments, unless limited to polyurethane products other than polyurethane foam, the polyurethane product is polyurethane foam.

[0044] In a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention, which is a specific configuration of the eighteenth embodiment, the polyurethane foam is a flexible polyurethane foam.

[0045] In a twentieth embodiment of the present invention which is another specific configuration of the eighteenth embodiment, the polyurethane foam is a rigid polyurethane foam.

[0046] In a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention, which may be combined with all other embodiments, unless limited to polyurethane products other than polyurethane elastomers, the polyurethane product is a polyurethane elastomer.

[0047] In a twenty-second embodiment of the present invention, which may be combined with all other embodiments, unless limited to polyurethane products other than polyurethane adhesives, the polyurethane product is a polyurethane adhesive.

[0048] In a twenty-third embodiment of the present invention, which may be combined with all other embodiments, unless limited to polyurethane products other than a polyurethane coating, the polyurethane product is a polyurethane coating.

[0049] In a 24th embodiment of the present invention, which can be combined with all other embodiments, provided that it comprises step (D.II.a) or step (DIb) (step of hydrolyzing the carbamate), a catalyst selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkali metal salts of carboxylic acids (especially acetates), alkaline earth metal salts of carboxylic acids (especially acetates), Lewis acids (e.g., especially dibutyltin dilaurate), organic amines (e.g., especially diethanolamine), organometallic compounds (e.g., especially titanium tetrabutoxide) and tin compounds (e.g., especially tin octoate) are used in step (D.II.a) or step (DIb).

[0050] In a twenty-fifth embodiment of the present invention, which can be combined with all other embodiments, water in step (B), if present, is provided in an amount such that the mass fraction of water based on the total mass of polyurethane product, catalyst, alcohol and water present in step (B) (i.e. immediately after mixing of the reactants, i.e. before the start of the urethane cleavage reaction) is in the range of 0% to 5.0%, preferably in the range of 0% to 3.0%, more preferably in the range of 0% to 2.0%, very preferably in the range of 0% to 1.6%, and no further water is added during the reaction of the polyurethane product with the (monohydric or polyhydric) alcohol in the presence of the catalyst.

[0051] In a 26th embodiment of the present invention, which can be combined with all other embodiments, the reaction of the polyurethane product with a (monohydric or polyhydric) alcohol in the presence of a catalyst in step (B) is carried out at a temperature in the range of 160°C to 240°C.

[0052] In a twenty-seventh embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with all other embodiments, the polyol (i.e. the polyol forming the polyol component of the polyurethane product) is selected from the group consisting of polyether polyols, polyester polyols, polyether ester polyols, polyether carbonate polyols and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing polyols. The polyol forming the polyol component of the polyurethane product preferably comprises a polyether polyol, more preferably the polyol is a polyether polyol (not including other polyols different from the polyether polyol; however, mixtures of two or more different polyether polyols are included and not outside the scope of this embodiment).

[0053] The above briefly outlined embodiments and possible further configurations of the present invention are elucidated in more detail below. The different embodiments can be combined with each other in any way, unless the contrary is clearly evident from the context to the skilled person.

[0054] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the process of the present invention in the form of a simple block flow diagram, including the preferred embodiment and the recycle flow according to variant a outlined above. The definitions are as follows: 1: Polyurethane products; 2: alcohol; 21: first alcohol phase; 22: alcohol fraction; 3: First product mixture 4: organic solvent; 41: first solvent phase; 42: second solvent phase; 43: third solvent phase; 5: wash aqueous solution; 50: emulsion phase; 51: first aqueous phase; 52: second aqueous phase; 53: water phase; 6: Polyol; 7: Carbamate phase; 8: Amine phase; 9: Amine; 1000: Process (A); 2000: Step (B) (as alcoholysis); 3000: Process (C); 3100: Process (CI); 3210: Process (C.II.1); 3220: Process (C.II.2); 3231: Process (C.II.3.a); 3240: Process (C.II.4); 4000: Process (D); 4101: Process (DIa); 4201: Process (D.II.a); 4300: Process (D.III).

[0055] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the process of the invention in the form of a simple block flow diagram, including the preferred embodiment and the recycle flow according to variant b outlined above. The reference symbols used have the same definition as in Figure 1. Additional definitions are as follows: 10: Amine-water-alcohol mixture; 11: Amine-alcohol mixture; 23: second alcohol phase; 54: Evaporated water; 3232:Process (C.II.3.b); 4102: step (DIb); 4202: step (D.II.b); 4212: first sub-step of step (D.II.b) (evaporation of water); 4222: second sub-step of step (D.II.b) (evaporation of alcohol fraction).

[0056] A first aqueous phase is not obtained in all cases or as a separate fraction in all cases, therefore a dashed arrow is used in this regard.

[0057] Preparation for chemical recycling In step (A) of the method of the invention (=1000 in the drawing), a chemical polyurethane product 1 to be recycled is provided.

[0058] This can in principle be any kind of polyurethane product, i.e. polyurethane foam, but also polyurethane products for CASE applications. With regard to polyurethane foam, both flexible and rigid foams are suitable, but flexible foams (e.g. from old mattresses, upholstered furniture or car seats) are preferred. For polyurethane products for CASE applications, polyurethane elastomers, polyurethane adhesives and polyurethane coatings are preferred. Among polyurethane products, flexible polyurethane foams are particularly preferred.

[0059] In terms of the isocyanate component, polyurethane products made from an isocyanate selected from the group consisting of tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), diphenylmethane diisocyanates (MDI), pentane-1,5-diisocyanate (PDI), hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), and xylylene diisocyanate (XDI), and mixtures of two or more of these isocyanates, are preferred. In terms of the isocyanate component, polyurethane products made from TDI or a mixture of TDI and MDI are particularly preferred. Particularly preferred polyurethane products are those made from only TDI in terms of the isocyanate component.

[0060] In terms of the polyol component, polyurethane products made from a polyol selected from the group consisting of polyether polyols, polyester polyols, polyether ester polyols, polyether carbonate polyols, and mixtures of two or more of these polyols are preferred. Terms such as "polyether polyol", "polyester polyol", and the like, of course, also encompass embodiments in which two or more different polyether polyols, polyester polyols, and the like are used. Particularly preferred polyurethane products are made from polyether polyols in terms of the polyol component.

[0061] Therefore, overall, flexible polyurethane foams made from TDI or a mixture of TDI and MDI as the isocyanate component and from polyether polyols as the polyol component are preferred for the process of the present invention.

[0062] Step (A) preferably includes a preparatory step for the cleavage of the urethane bonds in step (B), which is in particular the mechanical grinding of the polyurethane product. Such preparatory steps are known to those skilled in the art and can be found, for example, in the documents cited in Non-Patent Document 1.

[0063] Chemical cleavage of urethane bonds Step (B) (=2000 in the drawing) of the method of the invention concerns the cleavage of the urethane bonds. Step (B) is preferably carried out as alcoholysis (usually referred to in the literature as glycolysis; see 2. above), in particular at temperatures in the range of 160°C to 240°C, i.e. as a reaction with alcohol without the addition of a significant proportion of water, in contrast to the process referred to in the literature as hydroglycolysis. Without the addition of a significant proportion of water in this context means that no amount of water is intentionally added that would cause hydroglycolysis (or more precisely hydroalcohololysis) to a significant extent. The ingress of small amounts of water, which may for example be present in the solution of the alcohol 2 used in step (B) or may be mixed in by the polyurethane product or may be used as a solvent for the catalyst, is not excluded by this expression. Thus, even when step (B) is carried out as alcoholysis, it is possible that the first product mixture contains water. It is likewise envisaged to add a small amount of water in step (B) before the start of the reaction of the polyurethane product with the alcohol in the presence of the catalyst in order to bring any precipitated salts into solution. In this case, it may be preferable to add carbon dioxide to the water to be added, more specifically to saturate said water with carbon dioxide. This promotes the dissolution of the basic salt. Water is admixed in step (B) from the above-mentioned sources in such an amount that the mass fraction of water based on the total mass of polyurethane product, catalyst, alcohol and water (whatever the origin) present in step (B) (i.e. immediately after mixing of the reactants, i.e. before the start of the urethane cleavage reaction) is in the range of 0% to 5.0%, preferably in the range of 0% to 3.0%, more preferably in the range of 0% to 2.0%, very preferably in the range of 0% to 1.6%. In particular, since in the method of the present invention the water chemically consumed by the urethane cleavage reaction is not replenished by the addition of further water during the reaction, these proportions are significantly lower than those usually used for hydroalcohololysis, and therefore, even if small amounts of water are present initially, the reaction proceeding in step (B) proceeds rapidly as a "pure alcoholysis".

[0064] It is also possible to add water after the alcoholysis has taken place in the cold state (in particular after cooling to room temperature) in order to dissolve the salts. In this case, the mass fraction of water used for this purpose can be higher, in particular up to 20%, based on the total mass of the reaction mixture after the alcoholysis has taken place in the cold state and before the addition of this water. Here too, it may be preferable to add carbon dioxide to the water added, more particularly to saturate this water with carbon dioxide, in order to promote the dissolution of the basic salts.

[0065] This alcoholysis results in a first product mixture 3, which contains polyol, carbamate and the alcohol used (since the alcohol is used in principle in superstoichiometric amounts in step (B), the first product mixture always contains a fraction of unreacted alcohol), any water (see explanation above) and also, depending in particular on the nature of the polyurethane product prepared in step (A), any amines, more particularly those corresponding to the isocyanates of the isocyanate component. In the case of the reaction of the urethane bonds of the recycled polyurethane product with the alcohol used in step (B), the polyols bound to the urethane bonds are released and new urethanes are formed with the alcohol used. For this new urethane, the term carbamate is used in the context of the present invention in order to better distinguish it from the original urethane. In the case of polyhydric alcohols, in principle all alcohol groups can take part in this type of carbamate-forming reaction.

[0066] The first product mixture may already contain amines, especially if the polyurethane product prepared in step (A) contains significant amounts of urea (e.g., resulting from water-blown foaming), which then reacts with the alcohol used in step (B) to release amines.

[0067] Alcoholysis can in principle be carried out as known per se in the prior art.

[0068] Alcohols 2 suitable for step (B) are in particular methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, methyl glycol, triethylene glycol, glycerol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol or a mixture of two or more of these alcohols. Particular preference is given here to ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, methyl glycol, triethylene glycol or a mixture of two or more of these. Particular preference is given to diethylene glycol.

[0069] As the catalyst in step (B), particularly preferred are those treated with alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkali metal salts of carboxylic acids (particularly acetates), alkaline earth metal salts of carboxylic acids (particularly acetates), Lewis acids (e.g., particularly dibutyltin dilaurate), organic amines (e.g., particularly diethanolamine), organometallic compounds (e.g., particularly titanium tetrabutoxide), and tin compounds (e.g., particularly tin octoate). Step (B) is preferably carried out at a temperature in the range of 160°C to 270°C in the presence of 0.1% by mass to 5% by mass of the catalyst based on the mass of the polyurethane product to be added.

[0070] The first product mixture 3 thus obtained may be (and is preferably) a monophasic mixture. It is a major advantage of the present invention that the work-up to isolate the products of chemical cleavage of the urethane bonds, i.e. at least the polyol (see step (C)), preferably the polyol and the amine (see step (D)), is not based on achieving a preliminary separation of the product mixture in step (B) itself, as is the case in many prior art processes directed to biphasic products (see Friedrichs, 19 ...

[0071] Polyol Recovery Step (C) (= 3000 in the drawing) of the method of the invention comprises the recovery of polyol from the first product mixture obtained in step (B), i.e. the removal of water between steps (B) and (C), which is not carried out in the prior art "Ford hydroglycolysis process". For this purpose, in a first step (CI) (= 3100 in the drawing), the first product mixture 3 obtained in step (B) is combined with an organic solvent 4 which is completely immiscible with the alcohol 2 used in step (B), thus forming two phases (= extraction of the first product mixture 3 by the organic solvent 4).

[0072] Suitable organic solvents 4 for step (CI) are in particular aliphatic hydrocarbons (such as, in particular, pentane, heptane, hexane, octane, nonane, decane or dodecane), alicyclic hydrocarbons (such as, in particular, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, methylcyclopentane or cyclopentane), aromatic hydrocarbons (such as, in particular, benzene or toluene), or a mixture of two or more of these organic solvents. Among the above-mentioned examples, nonane is preferred among the aliphatic hydrocarbons, cyclohexane is preferred among the alicyclic hydrocarbons, and toluene is preferred among the aromatic hydrocarbons.

[0073] The alcohol 2 used in step (B) and the organic solvent 4 used in step (CI) must in each case be matched to each other so that a phase separation can be carried out in step (CI) into a first alcohol phase 21 (containing, in addition to the alcohol 2 used, the carbamate and any amines, more particularly the amines corresponding to the isocyanates of the isocyanate component) and a first solvent phase 41 (containing the polyol). For this purpose, it is preferred to use aromatic hydrocarbons as the organic solvent 4 and ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, methyl glycol and / or triethylene glycol as the alcohols. The combinations of nonane and diethylene glycol, cyclohexane and diethylene glycol and toluene and diethylene glycol have proven to be particularly suitable, the former two combinations being particularly preferred. In case of doubt, suitable combinations of alcohol and solvent can be quickly confirmed by simple preliminary tests.

[0074] Step (CI) can be carried out using extraction equipment known per se to the person skilled in the art, for example in particular static separators with and without internals, or centrifuges. Ratios in the range of 1:2 to 4:1, based on the ratio of organic solvent to first product mixture, are preferred in this case. Temperatures between 20° C. and 80° C., preferably at most 10 K below the boiling point of the solvent used, optionally with nitrogen blanketing and slight overpressure to prevent gas evolution, batch extraction, in particular countercurrent extraction to reduce the total amount of water, are suitable process conditions.

[0075] The first solvent phase 41 obtained after phase separation is worked up in step (C.II) to recover the polyol 6. This work-up preferably comprises a (single- or multi-stage) washing of the first solvent phase 41 with an aqueous washing solution 5 in step (C.II.1) (=3210). Here, after phase separation, a second solvent phase 42 (containing the polyol), an "emulsion phase" 50 (containing the organic components, in particular the polyol, emulsified in the aqueous washing solution) and optionally a first aqueous phase 51 are obtained. During this washing in phase separation, it has been found in practice that not only an organic phase (second solvent phase 42) but also a phase composed of the aqueous washing solution in which the organic components have been emulsified is regularly formed, and even that under certain circumstances no (transparent) aqueous phase is obtained at all. If a (clear) aqueous phase is obtained, it may be separated together with the emulsion component (in which case, in the present terminology, the entire emulsion component and the clear component are referred to as the emulsion phase), or the resulting mixture is separated into three phases: a second solvent phase, an emulsion phase (in this case without the clear component) and a first aqueous phase (with the clear component). Thus, in the first example, there are two fractions after phase separation, and in the second example, there are three fractions.

[0076] In the case of multi-stage washing in step (C.II.1), several "first aqueous phases" (=clear aqueous phases) may be obtained initially due to the phase separation after each washing step. The multi-stage washing in step (C.II.1) can be carried out according to principles known to the skilled artisan, for example in the form of batch extraction and / or countercurrent extraction, more particularly as countercurrent extraction. The fractions of emulsion phase obtained in each washing step are combined. In the case of countercurrent extraction, the (clear) aqueous phase obtained in the second or further washing step is preferably used in each case as the aqueous washing solution in the preceding washing step, while the (clear) aqueous phase obtained in the first washing step is preferably added to the emulsion phase and fed together with it to step (C.II.3), which is the step already briefly described above (regardless of the variant in which this step is carried out). In the case of batch extraction, the procedure can use all the (clear) aqueous phases obtained, i.e. they can be added to the emulsion phase and fed together with it to step (C.II.3).

[0077] The second solvent phase 42 thus obtained is worked up in step (C.II.2) (=3220) to recover the polyol. This is preferably achieved by means of distillation and / or stripping with a stripping gas (e.g., in particular nitrogen or steam, preferably nitrogen). In one embodiment, this step comprises distillation in an evaporator selected from the group consisting of falling film evaporators, thin film evaporators, flash evaporators, rising film evaporators, natural circulation evaporators, forced circulation evaporators and kettle evaporators. Such distillation is preferably followed by steam stripping.

[0078] The emulsion phase obtained in step (C.II.1), whether this phase takes the form of a pure emulsion phase or of a mixture of emulsion constituents with a clear aqueous phase, contains polyols and is therefore preferably further worked up. For this purpose, it has been found appropriate to combine the emulsion phase in step (C.II.3) with an organic solvent, more particularly the same solvent as that used in step (B), followed by phase separation (= extraction of the emulsion phase with an organic solvent to break the emulsion). There are several options for carrying out this step (C.II.3):

[0079] In a first variant (variant a; 3231; see FIG. 1), the emulsion is broken using (only) an organic solvent 4 as described above. Phase separation produces a third solvent phase 43 and a second aqueous phase 52. The third solvent phase 43 can be returned to step (CI) (3100; use as extraction solvent) or to step (C.II.1) (3210; combination with the first solvent phase for washing) in step (C.II.4) (=3240).

[0080] In a second variant (variant b; 3232; see FIG. 1), the emulsion is broken (partially or completely, preferably completely) using not only the organic solvent but also the first alcoholic phase 21 obtained in step (CI). Phase separation produces a third solvent phase 43 and a second alcoholic phase 22, which contains the carbamate and / or amine from the first alcoholic phase.

[0081] Amine Recovery The present invention also preferably comprises the recovery of the amine in step (D) (=4000 in the drawing), which comprises a step of hydrolysis of the carbamate formed in step (B).

[0082] In a first variant (variant a; see also FIG. 1), this is preferably achieved by first evaporating the alcohol fraction 22 in step (DIa) (= 4101 in FIG. 1) from the first alcohol phase 21 obtained in step (CI), this alcohol fraction 22 optionally further comprising additives from the polyurethane product and / or subsequent products of the catalyst used in step (B). This evaporation can be carried out in conjunction with the removal of the organic solvent present in the alcohol phase before or after the evaporation, the term "before or after" also encompassing the configuration of solvent removal in which water and solvent are distilled into a common receiver and then separated from each other by phase separation. The organic solvent recovered in this type of solvent removal step can be returned to the process, for example to the third solvent phase 43. The alcohol fraction 22 obtained in the evaporation is preferably returned (optionally after purification) to step (B), where it is used as a constituent of the alcohol used for urethane cleavage.

[0083] Evaporation leaves a carbamate phase 7, which is hydrolyzed in step (D.II.a) (4201 in FIG. 1) with an aqueous phase 53, in particular a wash aqueous phase, to obtain an amine phase (amine-water mixture; 8 in FIG. 1), so that impurities generally originating from the polyurethane product remain at least partially in this amine phase 8. The hydrolysis can be (and preferably is) carried out in the presence of a catalyst, in which case the same catalysts as those mentioned above for step (B) are suitable. The second aqueous phase 52 obtained in step (C.II.3.a) is preferably used as a constituent (optionally the only constituent) of the aqueous phase used in step (D.II.a). If the phase separation in step (C.II.1) is carried out and a first aqueous phase 51 is obtained, in one embodiment of the present invention, this first aqueous phase can be used as a constituent of the aqueous phase (washing aqueous phase; 53) used in step (D.II.a), more particularly in combination with the second aqueous phase 52 obtained in step (C.II.3.a); optionally also as the only constituent. If step (C.II.1) is carried out in multiple stages, in the case of the countercurrent extraction described above, in particular only the "first aqueous phase" obtained in the first washing stage is used in this way in step (D.II.a). In the case of batch extraction, all the "first aqueous phase" can be used in this way in step (D.II.a).

[0084] However, in principle any conventional water source (including, for example, fresh water or condensed steam) can be used as the aqueous phase 53 of step (D.II.a).

[0085] In a second variant (variant b; see also FIG. 2), the recovery of the amine in step (D) starts from the second alcoholic phase 23 (since the carbamate or amine initially present in the first alcoholic phase 21 has been transferred to said phase in step (C.II.3.b)). In this variant, the hydrolysis step (in this case step (DIb)=4102 in FIG. 2) is preferably carried out first and only afterwards the evaporation step (in this case step (D.II.b)=4202). The hydrolysis produces an amine-water-alcohol mixture. For the implementation of this step, reference can be made to the explanation given above in connection with the first variant.

[0086] In the next step (step (D.II.b)=4202), the amine-water-alcohol mixture 10 is subjected to an evaporation procedure. This is preferably carried out in two stages, by evaporation of the water 54 in a first stage 4212 leaving the amine-alcohol mixture 11, and by evaporation of the alcohol fraction 22 in a second stage 4222 leaving the amine phase 8. Also in this variant, the removal of any organic solvent present can be carried out before or after the evaporation (i.e. evaporation of the water), the term "before or after" also encompassing the configuration of solvent removal in which the water and the solvent are distilled into a common receiver and then separated from each other by phase separation. The organic solvent recovered in this type of solvent removal step can be returned to the process, for example to the third solvent phase. The evaporated water can likewise be returned to the process, in particular it can be used as a constituent of the aqueous phase used in particular in step (DIb). The additionally required water can come from other conventional sources (for example fresh water or condensed steam). The alcohol fraction obtained in the second evaporation step is preferably returned (optionally after purification) to step (B) where it is used as a building block of the alcohol used for urethane cleavage.

[0087] Independently of the variant chosen, the amine 9 is finally obtained in step (D.III) from the amine phase 8 obtained in the hydrolysis (step (DIb) or step (D.II.a)). Depending on the nature of the amine, this work-up preferably involves a phase separation and / or a distillation. If the amine phase still contains a significant proportion of the alcohol used in step (B), this alcohol can be separated as part of step (D.III) and returned to step (B).

[0088] In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, which provides an economical and environmentally friendly outlet for impurities originating from the polyurethane product, the recovery of amines from the amine phase is coupled to the work-up of the freshly prepared amines by blending in the amine phase with a crude amine product fraction originating from a fresh preparation of the amines.

[0089] (1) This particularly advantageous embodiment of the process of the invention is particularly applicable when the isocyanate component of the polyurethane product originates from exactly one isocyanate. In such circumstances, the amine phase 8 recovered from the polyurethane product in the process of the invention contains only the amines corresponding to the isocyanates of the isocyanates (and no others) and can therefore be easily mixed with the crude product fractions obtained in the process for the preparation of the same amines (of the same amines) (i.e. for a new preparation as distinguished from the recovery by recycling).

[0090] (2) In the situation where the isocyanate component of the polyurethane product is derived from isocyanates of different isocyanates, the particularly advantageous embodiment described of the method of the invention can be applied in particular when the boiling points of the amines corresponding to the isocyanates are different, so that (exactly) one amine boils at a significantly lower temperature (i.e. at least 20° C. lower) than the lowest boiling amines otherwise present as well. In such a situation, this embodiment can be used to recover the lowest boiling amines in the course of work-up of freshly prepared amines of the same amines, and to remove the amines of the higher boiling amines in the work-up by transferring them to the bottom fraction and / or to the residue (see below for details). For example, in the case of a polyurethane product derived from a mixture of TDI and MDI for its isocyanate component, the amine phase can be linked to the work-up of the TDA crude product fraction by mixing it with such TDA crude product fraction and work-up together with said fraction. In this workup, the freshly prepared TDA and the TDA originally coming from the polyurethane product are obtained together, while the MDA from the polyurethane product is removed in the distillation purification as a bottom fraction, from which it can be obtained in a further distillation step (at least for diamines of the diphenylmethane series) or it is possible to dispense with the (physical) recovery of MDA and transfer it to the solid residue from the TDA preparation (see below for details).

[0091] The following detailed description, for simplicity, is oriented in wording to situation (1), but is also applicable to situation (2).

[0092] In the preparation of amines important for polyurethane synthesis, crude product fractions are regularly produced, for example as bottom fractions in distillations for purifying the target amine or as crude product of the preparation itself (possibly after removal of the solvent) which, in addition to the desired amine, also contain impurities and / or by-products, such as organic impurities boiling at a higher temperature than the amine (called high boilers), organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine (called low boilers) and / or water (of reaction). In this particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the recovery of the amine from the amine phase is coupled with the work-up of the freshly prepared amine, so that a crude product fraction of this kind (obtained in any case in the amine preparation) is given in step (E) and mixed in step (D.III.1) with the amine phase from step (D.III) and the amine is recovered by subsequent work-up.

[0093] A crude product fraction of this kind given in step (E) is obtained in particular as follows: (E.1) The nitro compound corresponding to the amine is catalytically hydrogenated (e.g. in the presence of a Raney nickel catalyst) (e.g. hydrogenating dinitrotoluene to tolylenediamine), optionally in the presence of a solvent (e.g. methanol), to obtain, after removal of the optionally used solvent, a crude product fraction (as crude hydrogenation product) which contains in addition to the amine high and low boilers and water; (E.II) removing water from this crude product to obtain a (nearly) water-free process product; (E.III) The (almost) water-free process product is purified by distillation to obtain a distillate fraction of the desired amine and a crude product fraction (as the distillation bottom fraction) which contains organic impurities boiling at a higher point than the amine, as well as a further fraction of the desired amine.

[0094] Steps (EI) to (E.III) are shown diagrammatically in Figure 3. The definitions are as follows: 12: Water used for hydrogenation; 13: Nitro compounds corresponding to amines; 14: Crude hydrogenation product; 15: Water removed; 16: Method products where water is lost; 17: distillate fraction of amines formed in the hydrogenation; 18: bottom fraction of distillation; 5100: Hydrogenation (Step (EI)); 5200: Water removal (Step (E.II)); 5300: Distillation (Step (E.III)).

[0095] In one embodiment of the present invention, the amine phase 8 is mixed with the crude hydrogenation product 14 obtained in step (EI) (said crude product has only been freed of any solvent present), i.e. the crude product fraction from step (E) is obtained as crude hydrogenation product (step (EI)=5100). The amine 9 from the polyurethane product is now distilled off together with the amine 17 from the (new) preparation. This is shown in FIG. 4, where the reference signs already used have the same meaning as before, 4310 denotes step (D.III.1).

[0096] In this embodiment, the amine phase 8 is mixed with the crude hydrogenation product from step (EI), in particular before or during the water removal step (step (E.II)), the removal of water being preferably carried out by distillation, for example as described in EP-A-0 236 839. In this embodiment, the crude product fraction of the amine corresponding to the isocyanate, which in this case contains not only the amine but also organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine and also water, is sent to a distillation for the removal of water. This distillation produces a bottom fraction containing the amine, organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine and organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than the amine, and also an overhead fraction containing the removed water (possibly together with residual amounts of organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine). The impurities originating from the polyurethane product are transferred to the bottom fraction in the water removal step, i.e. step (E.II). They are likewise transferred to the bottom fraction in the subsequent amine distillation step, i.e. step (E.III).

[0097] In a further embodiment of the invention, the amine phase 8 is mixed with the bottom fraction 18 obtained in step (E.III), i.e. the crude product fraction from step (E) is obtained as the bottom fraction of the amine distillation (step (E.III)=5300). Examples of such crude product fractions obtained as the bottom fraction of the amine distillation are streams 5, 50 and 51 in figures 1 to 3 of WO 02 / 48075, which can be further worked up as outlined therein or deviating therefrom in the drying apparatus outlined below. Another example of such a crude product fraction is stream P4 in figures 1 to 5 of US Pat. No. 7,307,190. Bottom fractions of this type are worked up in the prior art for the recovery of the amines they contain. For this purpose, the bottom fraction is concentrated in a drying apparatus to obtain a solid residue, which can be recovered by distilling off the amines. In the described embodiment of the process of the invention, the recovery of amine 20, originating from the (fresh) preparation of amines, is linked with the recovery of amine 9, originating from the polyurethane product, in this case by mixing the amine phase 8 with the bottom fraction 18. In this case, in addition to amines 20, 9, a solid residue is thus obtained which comprises high boilers present in the crude product fraction and impurities originating from the polyurethane product. This is illustrated in Figure 5, where the reference signs already used have the same meaning as before, with 6000 representing the work-up of the residue. Suitable apparatuses for such aftertreatment are known to the person skilled in the art and are described, for example, in DE 102012108261 A1 (kneader-driers, also mentioned in US Pat. No. 3,307,190, for the aftertreatment of stream P4), EP 2540702 A1 (fluidized bed dryers) and WO 2018 / 114846 A1 (various types of dryers) (in the German, European and international patents mentioned, the aftertreatment of TDI residues is described, but the apparatuses can also be used for the aftertreatment of TDA residues). The solid residues obtained in this type of aftertreatment procedure can be further treated as before. For example, they can be combusted, gassed (i.e. heated under oxygen-deficient conditions as opposed to combustion) or pyrolyzed.

[0098] Thus, with the particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention outlined above, success is achieved in reducing or avoiding additional waste streams by transferring impurities from the polyurethane product to the residues present in any case. EXAMPLES

[0099] analysis: The composition of the mixture of compounds was determined using H-NMR / 2D-NMR spectroscopy with an internal standard. The percentages given for the composition of the mixture of compounds are mass fractions based on the total mass of the mixture of compounds in question.

[0100] experiment: The TDI-based polyurethane foam was subjected to alcoholysis with diethylene glycol (DEG) in a 1:1 weight ratio (steps (A) and (B) of the process of the present invention). The resulting first product mixture had the following composition (weight fractions based on the total weight of the first product mixture): First product mixture: 38% polyols, 42% DEG, and 20% total TDA and carbamates.

[0101] 70 g of this first product mixture was introduced into a sample bottle and 160 g of toluene were added. The bottle was sealed and shaken by hand for 5 minutes (extraction according to step (CI) of the method of the invention). The resulting product mixture had two phases. The upper light phase mainly contained polyol and toluene (first solvent phase) and the lower heavy phase mainly contained DEG, amine or carbamate compounds (alcohol phase from step (CI) = first alcohol phase). The two phases were separated from each other in a separatory funnel. Approximately 145 g of solvent phase and approximately 76 g of alcohol phase were obtained. The composition of the phases was as follows: Light phase (first solvent phase): 11% polyol, 85% toluene, 3% DEG, the remainder TDA and carbamates. Heavy phase (first alcohol phase): 4% polyol, 36% toluene, 45% DEG, the remainder TDA and carbamates.

[0102] 120 g of the first solvent phase were transferred to a sample bottle and 120 g of fully demineralized water (FD water) were added. The bottle was sealed and shaken by hand for 5 minutes. Approximately 70 g of a light phase (second solvent phase) and approximately 165 g of a heavy phase (emulsion phase) were separated from each other (washing according to step (C.II.1) of the method of the invention). The composition of the light phase was as follows: Light phase (second solvent phase): 11% polyol, 85% toluene, about 2.7% water, 0.2% DEG, the remainder TDA and carbamates.

[0103] In a proof of principle test, the second solvent phase was heated at 150° C. and 30 mbar using a rotary evaporator to remove most of the solvent. The following composition was found for the remaining crude polyol: Crude polyol: 93% polyol, 0.3% toluene, about 0.2% water, 4% DEG, the remainder TDA and carbamates.

[0104] The removal of interfering components (especially TDA and carbamates) is easily possible by means of distillation techniques (step (C.II.2)).

[0105] The emulsion phase was mixed with the first alcohol phase (from step (CI)) in a sample bottle and 150 g of toluene was added to 50 g of the resulting mixture. The sample bottle was sealed and shaken by hand for 5 minutes (extraction of the emulsion phase with the aim of breaking the emulsion according to step (C.II.3.b) shown in FIG. 2). After a short separation time of less than 2 minutes, two neatly separated phases were present, free of emulsion, which could be easily separated from each other. The phases thus obtained had the following composition: Light phase (third solvent phase): 0.4% polyol, 98.2% toluene, about 1% water, 0.1% DEG, the remainder TDA and carbamates. Heavy phase (second alcohol phase): 0.6% polyol, 4% toluene, about 48% water, 37% DEG, the remainder TDA and carbamates.

Claims

1. (A) preparing a polyurethane product made from an isocyanate component and a polyol component; (B) reacting the polyurethane product with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a first product mixture containing unreacted alcohol, polyol and carbamate, and optionally water; (C) (C.I) combining the first product mixture obtained in step (B) with an organic solvent that is not completely miscible with the alcohol used in step (B) without prior removal of water present in the first product mixture and carrying out phase separation into a first alcohol phase and a first solvent phase; (C.II) working up the first solvent phase to recover the polyol; post-treating the first product mixture, comprising: Optionally, (D) working up the first alcohol phase, comprising hydrolyzing the carbamate; 23. A method for recovering raw materials from a polyurethane product, comprising:

2. Step (C.II) (C.II.1) scrubbing the first solvent phase with an aqueous scrub solution and effecting phase separation into a second solvent phase, an emulsion phase, and optionally a first aqueous phase; (C.II.2) working up the second solvent phase to recover the polyol; The method of claim 1 , comprising:

3. Step (C.II) (C.II.3) The emulsion phase (C.II.3.a) combining with an organic solvent and effecting phase separation into a third solvent phase and a second aqueous phase; or (C.II.3.b) combining the first alcohol phase and the organic solvent and effecting phase separation into a third solvent phase and a second alcohol phase; (C.II.4) returning said third solvent phase to step (C.I) or step (C.II.1); The method of claim 2 further comprising:

4. Step (C.II.3.a), (D.I.a) evaporating an alcohol fraction from said first alcohol phase to leave a carbamate phase; (D.II.a) hydrolyzing the carbamate phase with an aqueous phase to obtain an amine phase; (D.III) recovering from the amine phase an amine corresponding to the isocyanate of the isocyanate component; and step (D) comprising:

5. Step (C.II.3.b), (D.I.b) hydrolyzing the second alcohol phase with an aqueous phase to obtain an amine-water-alcohol mixture; (D.II.b) evaporating the water from the amine-water-alcohol mixture to obtain an amine-alcohol mixture and then evaporating the alcohol fraction from the amine-alcohol mixture to leave an amine phase; (D.III) recovering from the amine phase an amine corresponding to the isocyanate of the isocyanate component; and step (D) comprising:

6. (E) providing a crude product fraction of an amine, which is the same amine as recovered in step (D.III), said crude product fraction containing in addition to said amine organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than said amine; Further comprising: Step (D.III) (D.III.1) mixing the amine phase with the crude product fraction and working up the resulting mixture to obtain amines contained in the crude product fraction together with amines recovered from the amine phase; The method according to claim 4 or 5, comprising:

7. or Or, 7. The process according to claim 6, wherein the crude product fraction is taken from a crude product of a process for producing an amine contained in the crude product fraction and contains, in addition to organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than the amine, organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine, as well as water, and is fed to a distillation to remove the water, obtaining a bottoms fraction containing the amine, organic impurities boiling more readily than the amine and organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than the amine, as well as an overhead fraction containing the removed water.

8. Step (E) is (E.I) catalytically hydrogenating the nitro compounds corresponding to the amines present in said crude product fraction to obtain a crude product containing, in addition to said amines, organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than said amines, organic impurities boiling more readily than said amines, and water; (E.II) removing water from said crude product to obtain a water-depleted process product; (E.II) distilling said water-depleted process product to obtain a distillate fraction of the amine present in said crude product fraction and a bottoms fraction containing organic impurities boiling at a higher boiling point than said amine; The method of claim 7, comprising:

9. In step (C.I), the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and mixtures of two or more of the organic solvents; 9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, methyl glycol, triethylene glycol, glycerol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, and mixtures of two or more of said alcohols.

10. 10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein water in step (B) is provided in an amount such that the mass fraction of water, based on the total mass of polyurethane product, catalyst, alcohol and water present in step (B), ranges from 0% to 5.0%, and no further water is added during the reaction of the polyurethane product with the alcohol in the presence of the catalyst.

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