Process for extracting polyester from an article
View Patent ↗A process for extracting polyester from an article using a solvent system using a compound according to Formula I is described, where wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from: hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or alkoxy groups; R 3 to R 12 are each independently selected from: hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or alkoxy groups; and each of “a” to “e” is a carbon atom, wherein the total linear chain length of a-b-c-d-e is in the range of 2 to 5 carbons.
1. A process for extracting polyester from an article using a solvent system comprising a compound according to Formula I
wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from: hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or alkoxy groups;
R 3 to R 12 are each independently selected from: hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or alkoxy groups;
and
each of a to e is a carbon atom, wherein
the total linear chain length of a-b-c-d-e is in the range of 2 to 5 carbons.
2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the article is fabric.
3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the article is clothing.
4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the article is plastics bottles.
5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the polyester is selected from: Polyglycolic acid (PGA), Polylactic acid (PLA), Polycaprolactone (PCL), Polyethylene adipate (PEA), Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), Polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) or combination thereof.
6. A process according to a claim 5 , wherein the polyester is polyethylene terephthalate.
7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent system is homogeneous.
8. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent system comprises one or more compounds according to Formula I in an amount in the range 30% to 100% by mass of the total mass of the composition.
9. A process according to claim 8 , wherein the solvent system comprises one or more compounds according to Formula I in an amount of at least 90% by mass of the total mass of the solvent system.
10. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent system has a temperature in the range of 70° C. to 110° C.
11. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the article is exposed to the solvent system for a period of time in the range of 1 to 2 hours.
12. A process according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 12 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group.
13. A process according to claim 12 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are both methyl groups.
14. A process according to claim 12 , R 3 to R 12 are hydrogen.
15. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the total linear chain length of a-b-c-d-e is 2 carbons.
16. A process according to claim 1 , further comprising a separation step adapted to remove dissolved polyester from the whole or part of the solvent system.
17. A composition comprising one or more compounds according to Formula I, for extracting polyester from an article, wherein the Formula I comprises
wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from: hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or alkoxy groups;
R 3 to R 12 are each independently selected from: hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or alkoxy groups;
and
each of a to e is a carbon atom, wherein
the total linear chain length of a-b-c-d-e is in the range of 2 to 5 carbons.
18. A composition according to claim 17 , wherein the article is a fabric.
19. A composition according to claim 18 , wherein the article is clothing.