A process for recycling a polyster waste material comprising polyurethane and / or polyamide impurities

Abstract

The invention pertains to a process for recycling a polyester waste material, the polyester waste material comprising polyurethane (PUR) and / or polyamide (PA) impurities, the process comprising the following steps: - dispersing the polyester waste material in liquid 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethanol (DGME), to dissolve any PUR impurities in the DGME and thereafter separating a stream of liquid DGME with the dissolved PUR impurities from the polyester waste material; - dispersing the polyester waste material in liquid mono ethylene glycol (MEG), to dissolve any PA impurities in the MEG and thereafter separating a stream of liquid MEG with the dissolved PA impurities from the polyester waste material; and after the steps of separating the said streams of liquid DGME and liquid MEG from the polyester waste material, subjecting this polyester waste material to a step wherein the polyester is depolymerised into an oligomeric ester by alcoholysis.