Urethane Polymer Depolymerization With Cosolvent at Low Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for recycling polyurethane waste, such as chemical depolymerization, require high temperatures and energy consumption, leading to high costs and low-quality recycled products with potential environmental pollution, and lack efficient methods for producing high-quality polyol at high yields.
Innovation Solution
A depolymerization composition comprising a compound with two or more alcohol functional groups and an aromatic compound with one or more alkoxy functional groups, along with a catalyst, is used to decompose urethane-functionalized polymers at low temperatures, facilitating rapid and high-yield production of high-quality polyol through phase separation and simple purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high temperature is used for chemical depolymerization of polyurethane, then depolymerization rate is improved, but energy consumption increases and product quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the reaction system by introducing a cosolvent with specific functional groups (ether, ester, or nitrile groups) that can form complexes with urethane bonds. This parameter change allows the depolymerization to proceed at lower temperatures (80-150°C) while maintaining high depolymerization rates, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The cosolvent acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the polyol solvent and the polyurethane waste. It forms temporary complexes with the urethane bonds, facilitating their breakdown at lower temperatures. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient depolymerization without requiring high energy input, addressing both the productivity and energy consumption concerns
2Productivity
If high temperature is used for chemical depolymerization of polyurethane, then depolymerization rate is improved, but product quality deteriorates with side reactions
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the temperature parameter to lower ranges (80-150°C) and introducing the cosolvent component, the invention creates optimal reaction conditions that maximize depolymerization rate while minimizing side reactions. The cosolvent's functional groups specifically target urethane bonds, enabling selective breakdown that preserves polyol quality and prevents unwanted byproduct formation
Solution Approach 2:
The cosolvent serves as a selective intermediary that specifically interacts with urethane bonds through its ether, ester, or nitrile groups. This selective interaction ensures that only the intended urethane bonds are broken down, preventing random degradation and side reactions that would compromise product quality, while still maintaining high depolymerization efficiency
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional depolymerization method is used, then process simplicity is maintained, but polyol recovery yield is low
Solution Approach 1:
The cosolvent acts as an intermediary that enhances the effectiveness of the simple depolymerization process. By forming complexes with urethane bonds and facilitating their breakdown, it significantly improves polyol recovery yield without adding complex separation or purification steps, thus maintaining process simplicity while achieving high yields (90% or more)
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the compositional parameters of the reaction system by adding the cosolvent component, which fundamentally improves polyol recovery yield. The cosolvent's ability to form complexes with urethane bonds ensures complete breakdown and high polyol recovery, transforming a low-yield process into a high-yield process while keeping the overall procedure simple and straightforward
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method enables rapid depolymerization of polyurethane at low temperatures, producing high-purity polyol with minimal side reactions, allowing for efficient recycling and reuse of materials with reduced environmental impact and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
chemical depolymerization, which involves heating it to convert it into fuel or directly recovering thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
chemical recycling, which involves recovering some or all of the material back to its pre-synthesis raw material form through a chemical reaction
Implementation Method 3
performing rapid depolymerization at a low temperature, and obtaining a high-quality recycled polyol at a high yield through a physical separation process of the resulting reaction products
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for low-temperature depolymerization of a polymer containing a urethane-functional group using a cosolvent and a method for producing polyol. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method of adding a compound having two or more alcohol-functional groups as a depolymerization solvent for decomposing a polymer containing a urethane-functional group, adding an aromatic compound having an alkoxy-functional group as a cosolvent to construct a reaction system for decomposing the polymer containing the urethane-functional group, thereby performing rapid depolymerization at a low temperature, and obtaining high-quality recycled polyol in high yield through a physical separation process of the reaction product generated therefrom.