Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to processes for forming
epoxy resin compositions and processes for separating substrates from complex mixtures. In an embodiment, a process for making an
epoxy resin composition is provided and includes: reacting a mixture comprising a substrate, an epihalohydrin, and a catalyst to form a first composition comprising a
halohydrin reaction product; introducing an alkaline
reagent with the first composition to form a second composition comprising an
epoxy resin product; introducing a liquid epoxy resin with the second composition to form a resin mixture; and removing unreacted epihalohydrin from the resin mixture to form the epoxy resin composition. In another embodiment, a process for separating a substrate from a substrate source is provided and includes: introducing an epihalohydrin with the substrate source comprising the substrate, the substrate comprising at least one hydroxyl group, and separating the epihalohydrin and the substrate from the substrate source.