IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,606,690
Granted Patent B2
US 12,606,690 · App. 18/383,458 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Base-mediated method for the recycling of epoxy resin-carbon fiber composites

Inventors: Rebecca Claire DiPucchio (Wheat Ridge, CO); Katherine Rose Stevenson (Wheat Ridge, CO); Gregg Tyler Beckham (Golden, CO)
Assignee: Alliance for Energy Innovation, LLC
C08J11/24C07C37/52C08J2363/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,606,690
App. No.
18/383,458
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, compositions of matter and processes for a base-mediated chemical deconstruction of varying amine-cured epoxy resins into constituent monomer alcohol products and amine materials are disclosed herein.

Claims (20)

1 . A method for metal alkoxide base-mediated cleavage of C—O and C—N bonds in amine-cured epoxy resins comprising contacting an amine-cured epoxy resin with a metal alkoxide base.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the metal alkoxide base comprises potassium tert-butoxide.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein a metal hydroxide base is added to the metal alkoxide base wherein the metal hydroxide base is selected from the group consisting of LiOH, NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH) 2 , and Sr(OH) 2 .

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the cleavage of C—O and C—N bonds in amine-cured epoxy resins yields about 97 percent molar yield of phenols and about 99 percent molar yield of amine products.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the metal alkoxide base-mediated cleavage of C—O and C—N bonds in amine-cured epoxy resins occurs at a temperature of from about 140 degrees Celsius to about 160 degrees Celsius.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the metal alkoxide base-mediated cleavage of C—O and C—N bonds in amine-cured epoxy resins occurs in a solvent mixture of toluene and dioxane.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the metal alkoxide base-mediated cleavage occurs over about 48 hours.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising swelling the amine-cured epoxy resin before contacting the resin with the metal alkoxide base.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the amine-cured epoxy resin is BADGE.

10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of isolating BPA and aniline as products resulting from the metal alkoxide base-mediated cleavage of C—O and C—N bonds of BADGE.

11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the metal alkoxide base is potassium tert-butoxide.

12 . The method of claim 9 further comprising swelling the BADGE before contacting the BADGE with the metal alkoxide base.

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the amine-cured epoxy resin is a thermoplastic resin.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the metal alkoxide base is potassium tert-butoxide.

15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising swelling the thermoplastic resin before contacting the thermoplastic resin with the metal alkoxide base.

16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the amine-cured epoxy resin is a thermoset resin.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the metal alkoxide base is potassium tert-butoxide.

18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the thermoset resin has a glass temperature transition of about 110 degrees Celsius.

19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising isolating resulting monomeric reaction products.

20 . The method of claim 16 further comprising swelling the thermoset resin before contacting the thermoset resin with the metal alkoxide base.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2025
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
To: ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 073993/0276 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Feb 26, 2024
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 066558/0083 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2023
From: DIPUCCHIO, REBECCA CLAIRE; STEVENSON, KATHERINE ROSE; BECKHAM, GREGG TYLER
To: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 065385/0938 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63418874 · Oct 24, 2022
Related Publication 20240158603A1 · May 16, 2024
References Cited (9)
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