William Chad Gamble

US Patent:

54322030, Jul 11, 1995

Filed:

Dec 12, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/353863

Inventors:

Bruce R. DeBruin - Kingsport TN
Andrius A. Naujokas - Webster NY
William J. Gamble - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

C08J 1104

US Classification:

521 485

Abstract:

There is described a process and optimal conditions for depolymerizing polyester into its components and separating the components using apparatus comprising: a dissolver for receiving polyester, a reactor for depolymerizing polyester into components, and a rectifier for separating polyester components; the process comprising the steps of: a) adding polyester to the dissolver and combining it with melt from the reactor and liquid from the rectifier to reduce the chain length of the polyester, b) transferring reduced chain length polyester from the dissolver to the reactor, c) passing super-heated methanol through the reactor to depolymerize polyester into its constituent monomers; d) transferring depolymerization products from the reactor to the rectifier; and e) separating the depolymerization products in the rectifier into a vapor phase containing component monomers and a liquid phase containing higher molecular weight materials.