WO1992007025A1 - Decontamination of polystyrene - Google Patents
Decontamination of polystyrene Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1992007025A1 WO1992007025A1 PCT/US1991/007820 US9107820W WO9207025A1 WO 1992007025 A1 WO1992007025 A1 WO 1992007025A1 US 9107820 W US9107820 W US 9107820W WO 9207025 A1 WO9207025 A1 WO 9207025A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- polystyrene
- product
- styrene monomer
- solution
- waste
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
- C08J11/00—Recovery or working-up of waste materials
- C08J11/04—Recovery or working-up of waste materials of polymers
- C08J11/06—Recovery or working-up of waste materials of polymers without chemical reactions
- C08J11/08—Recovery or working-up of waste materials of polymers without chemical reactions using selective solvents for polymer components
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
- C08J2325/00—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by an aromatic carbocyclic ring; Derivatives of such polymers
- C08J2325/02—Homopolymers or copolymers of hydrocarbons
- C08J2325/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of styrene
- C08J2325/06—Polystyrene
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
- Y02W30/62—Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a process for
- the present process is directed to recovering polystyrene resin by processing the waste resin product.
- Polystyrene in foamed or unfoamed form, is an indispensable material in present-day low-cost packaging.
- Supermarkets and fast-food restaurants use thermofarmed polystyrene products in enormous quantities. They are low-cost, attractive packaging products which have short lifetimes but, along with a superb utility in relation to food products, they also present a daunting waste
- Chemical Industry Company, Ltd. describes a process for regenerating polystyrene resin from waste ccartaminated polystyrene. This technique, however, involves the use of organic solvents and water. The subsequent removal of these organic solvents and water to reclaim the regenerated polymer can be economically urattractive.
- the present invention relates to a method of purifying and recovering a polystyrene product from post consumer waste contaminated polystyrene product comprising:
- waste contaminated polystyrene product is meant to include any foamed or unfoamed polystyrene material which has become contaminated during the product's useful life.
- the usual situation involves the contact of polystyrene with food products, usually in a fast-food or supermarket environment. In these instances, the waste is leftover and discarded food and drink products which are in surface contact with the polystyrene foam or sheet container or tray.
- the waste is leftover and discarded food and drink products which are in surface contact with the polystyrene foam or sheet container or tray.
- polystyrene beads are molded into a variety of shapes and structures other than coffee cups, such as
- packing material members used as spacers to keep fragile product separated, etc. During the useful life of these materials, they can become contaminated with whatever dirt and debris of the environment with which they come into contact.
- polystyrene product as employed herein is to be understood in its broadest sense so as to include not only polystyrene but para-methylstyrene,
- para-t-butylstyrene monochlorostyrene, dichl ⁇ rostyrene, impact polystyrene, blends of polystyrene and other
- polymers for example, polystyrene and polyphenylene oxide, etc.
- the technique of the present invention is elegant in its simplicity.
- the contaminated polystyrene product is merely fed into a volume of liquid styrene monomer, which monomer is at a temperature suited to effectively dissolve the polystyrene.
- the common waste products such as hamburger particles, bread and rolls, the usual fast-food condiments, milk, soft drinks, fish particles, remain undissolved in the styrene monomer.
- the solution process scrap polystyrene into styrene
- the scrap polystyrene may be dissolved in the styrene monomer at earlier stages in the return process.
- the solution can be separated by any convenient means from the excluded waste material.
- the means for separating the polystyrene-styrene solution from the waste material includes filtration, or countercurrent washing for. dissolved contaminants or for undissolved liquid contaminants, or continuous solution
- the recovered polystyrene-styrene monomer solution has utility as a feedstock or contributing feedstock in a
- styrene monomer is heated to its polymerization temperature and polystyrene is removed from the system.
- the recovered product of the present invention can be blended with styrene monomer feedstock and utilized as the sole or a contributing factor in the formation of polystyrene in a bulk suspension or continuous process.
- thermalally densified means heating the contaminated foamed or unfoamed polystyrene to reduce its density. Temperatures may reach carbonization temperatures for the food contaminants.
- the present invention is new described by way of Examples.
- Example 1 the filtered solution of Example 1 which contained approximately 20% of polystyrene was employed as the styrene feedstock to the polymerization process.
- the polymerization process was carried out to 80% solids (25% post consumer recycle) yielding a polystyrene product which appeared
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Separation, Recovery Or Treatment Of Waste Materials Containing Plastics (AREA)
- Manufacture Of Porous Articles, And Recovery And Treatment Of Waste Products (AREA)
Abstract
A method of decontaminating waste contaminated polystyrene involves dissolving the contaminated product in liquid styrene monomer and recovering the contaminant-free solution.
Description
DECONTAMINATION OF POLYSTYRENE
The present invention relates to a process for
decontaminating post-consumer-use waste contaminated
polystyrene. The present process is directed to recovering polystyrene resin by processing the waste resin product.
Polystyrene, in foamed or unfoamed form, is an indispensable material in present-day low-cost packaging. Supermarkets and fast-food restaurants use thermofarmed polystyrene products in enormous quantities. They are low-cost, attractive packaging products which have short lifetimes but, along with a superb utility in relation to food products, they also present a formidable waste
disposable problem. The industry is constantly on the lookout for better disposal means for these used products as alternatives to merely transporting them to a landfill for either incineration or burial. U.S. Patent No. 4,517,312, issued to Rumasaka et al. and assigned to Toyo Rubber
Chemical Industry Company, Ltd., describes a process for regenerating polystyrene resin from waste ccartaminated polystyrene. This technique, however, involves the use of organic solvents and water. The subsequent removal of these organic solvents and water to reclaim the regenerated polymer can be economically urattractive.
If a process for decontaminating polystyrene can be successfully proposed, such a process will contribute much to the solution of the commercial and post consumer waste problem and permit the ccaiservation of resources.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of purifying and recovering a polystyrene product from post consumer waste contaminated polystyrene product comprising:
(a) subjecting said waste contaminated product to the
solvent action of styrene monomer, in which the contaminants are at least substantially insoluble, to form a polystyrene product-styrene monomer solution; and
(b) recovering the contaminant-free solution.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The term "waste contaminated polystyrene product" is meant to include any foamed or unfoamed polystyrene material which has become contaminated during the product's useful life. Of course, the usual situation involves the contact of polystyrene with food products, usually in a fast-food or supermarket environment. In these instances, the waste is leftover and discarded food and drink products which are in surface contact with the polystyrene foam or sheet container or tray. There may, of course, be other polystyrene
contaminants which are not of a food or drink nature. For example, polystyrene beads are molded into a variety of shapes and structures other than coffee cups, such as
packing material, members used as spacers to keep fragile product separated, etc. During the useful life of these materials, they can become contaminated with whatever dirt and debris of the environment with which they come into contact.
The term "polystyrene product" as employed herein is to be understood in its broadest sense so as to include not only polystyrene but para-methylstyrene,
para-t-butylstyrene, monochlorostyrene, dichlαrostyrene, impact polystyrene, blends of polystyrene and other
polymers, for example, polystyrene and polyphenylene oxide, etc.
The technique of the present invention is elegant in its simplicity. The contaminated polystyrene product is merely fed into a volume of liquid styrene monomer, which
monomer is at a temperature suited to effectively dissolve the polystyrene. The common waste products such as hamburger particles, bread and rolls, the usual fast-food condiments, milk, soft drinks, fish particles, remain undissolved in the styrene monomer. Although it is intended that the solution process (scrap polystyrene into styrene) occurs at a polymerization plant site, it is understood that, if convenient, the scrap polystyrene may be dissolved in the styrene monomer at earlier stages in the return process. At some convenient polystyrene concentration in the styrene monomer, the solution can be separated by any convenient means from the excluded waste material.
The means for separating the polystyrene-styrene solution from the waste material includes filtration, or countercurrent washing for. dissolved contaminants or for undissolved liquid contaminants, or continuous solution
stream withdrawal, etc.
The recovered polystyrene-styrene monomer solution has utility as a feedstock or contributing feedstock in a
commercial styrene polymerization process. Basically,
styrene monomer is heated to its polymerization temperature and polystyrene is removed from the system. The recovered product of the present invention can be blended with styrene monomer feedstock and utilized as the sole or a contributing factor in the formation of polystyrene in a bulk suspension or continuous process. In the following example, "thermally densified" means heating the contaminated foamed or unfoamed polystyrene to reduce its density. Temperatures may reach carbonization temperatures for the food contaminants.
The present invention is new described by way of Examples.
EXAMPLE 1
440 lbs. of thermally densified waste contaminated
polystyrene foam fast-food containers which had been adherently contacted with the usual output of a fast-food restaurant, e.g., meat and fish sandwiches, French fries, soft drink, milk, condiments, etc., were dissolved in 1,600 lbs. of liquid styrene monomer at room temperature. With moderate stirring, the polystyrene dissolved in the styrene monomer over a period of 30 minutes. A sample of the overall mixture in its quiescent state revealed a noticeable surface scum and seme floating particles within the solution. The system was filtered through a 5 micron filter to yield a surprisingly clear solution product.
EXAMPLE 2
Employing a laboratory scale, styrene polymerization process, the filtered solution of Example 1 which contained approximately 20% of polystyrene was employed as the styrene feedstock to the polymerization process. The polymerization process was carried out to 80% solids (25% post consumer recycle) yielding a polystyrene product which appeared
indistinguishable from virgin polystyrene. During the
polymerization process, temperatures reached 140°C which effectively sterilizes any remaining bacteria which may have carried over from the process of Example 1.
It is clear that by the technique described above, an effective process has been presented, not only to greatly contribute to the elimination of a waste disposal problem but done so in a manner which provides an effective
economical use for the recovered polystyrene-styrene
solution.
Claims
1. A method of purifying and recovering a polystyrene product from a waste contaminated polystyrene comprising:
(a) subjecting said waste contaminated product to the solvent action of styrene monomer, in which the
contaminants are at least substantially insoluble, to form a polystyrene product-styrene monomer solution; and
(b) recovering the contaminant-free solution.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the polystyrene product is polystyrene.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the contaminant-free solution is recovered by filtration.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the recovered contaminant-free solution is employed as at least part of the feedstock in a bulk suspension or bulk continuous
process for farming polystyrene from styrene.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP4500781A JPH06502446A (en) | 1990-10-22 | 1991-10-22 | Polystyrene decontamination |
KR1019930701185A KR930702432A (en) | 1990-10-22 | 1991-10-22 | How to decontaminate polystyrene |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US60079690A | 1990-10-22 | 1990-10-22 | |
US600,796 | 1990-10-22 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1992007025A1 true WO1992007025A1 (en) | 1992-04-30 |
Family
ID=24405085
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1991/007820 WO1992007025A1 (en) | 1990-10-22 | 1991-10-22 | Decontamination of polystyrene |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0554379A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH06502446A (en) |
KR (1) | KR930702432A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1992007025A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0711797A1 (en) * | 1994-11-04 | 1996-05-15 | Basf Aktiengesellschaft | Expandable styrene polymer containing recycled material |
EP0637326B1 (en) * | 1992-03-31 | 2000-08-23 | Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. | Process for the removal of foreign materials from a post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate feed stream |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3043785A (en) * | 1958-07-15 | 1962-07-10 | Dow Chemical Co | Depigmenting polymeric compositions with aliphatic carboxylic acid settling aids |
US3736271A (en) * | 1970-12-24 | 1973-05-29 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Conversion of waste polymers to useful products |
DD207629A3 (en) * | 1982-05-20 | 1984-03-07 | Hans Ch Schreiber | METHOD FOR RECOVERING PURE POLYOLEFIN, POLYVINYL CHLORIDE AND POLYSTYRENE POLYMERES |
DD207628A3 (en) * | 1982-05-20 | 1984-03-07 | Hans Ch Schreiber | PROCESS FOR RECOVERING PURE POLYSTYRENE, POLYOLEFIN AND POLYVINYL CHLORIDE-TYPE POLYMERS |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1454302A (en) * | 1973-03-16 | 1976-11-03 | Rubber Plastics Research Ass O | Cellular plastics |
DE2733471A1 (en) * | 1977-07-25 | 1979-02-15 | Basf Ag | PROCESS FOR REUSE OF DECANTER MATERIAL DURING THE PROCESSING OF WASTE WATER FROM THE PRODUCTION OF POLYSTYRENE |
-
1991
- 1991-10-22 EP EP19910920509 patent/EP0554379A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-10-22 KR KR1019930701185A patent/KR930702432A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1991-10-22 JP JP4500781A patent/JPH06502446A/en active Pending
- 1991-10-22 WO PCT/US1991/007820 patent/WO1992007025A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3043785A (en) * | 1958-07-15 | 1962-07-10 | Dow Chemical Co | Depigmenting polymeric compositions with aliphatic carboxylic acid settling aids |
US3736271A (en) * | 1970-12-24 | 1973-05-29 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Conversion of waste polymers to useful products |
DD207629A3 (en) * | 1982-05-20 | 1984-03-07 | Hans Ch Schreiber | METHOD FOR RECOVERING PURE POLYOLEFIN, POLYVINYL CHLORIDE AND POLYSTYRENE POLYMERES |
DD207628A3 (en) * | 1982-05-20 | 1984-03-07 | Hans Ch Schreiber | PROCESS FOR RECOVERING PURE POLYSTYRENE, POLYOLEFIN AND POLYVINYL CHLORIDE-TYPE POLYMERS |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
Polymer Handbook, second edition, J. BRANDRUP, "Solvents and Non-solvents" (1975). see page IV 263. * |
See also references of EP0554379A4 * |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0637326B1 (en) * | 1992-03-31 | 2000-08-23 | Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. | Process for the removal of foreign materials from a post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate feed stream |
EP0711797A1 (en) * | 1994-11-04 | 1996-05-15 | Basf Aktiengesellschaft | Expandable styrene polymer containing recycled material |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR930702432A (en) | 1993-09-09 |
JPH06502446A (en) | 1994-03-17 |
EP0554379A1 (en) | 1993-08-11 |
EP0554379A4 (en) | 1993-08-18 |
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