US5286424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recycling polyolefins coated with chlorine-containing polymer
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
•
Filing: 1992-11-09
•
Granted: 1994-02-15
•
Expires: 2012-11-09
Abstract
Abstract Recycling polyolefin material, e.g. biaxially oriented polypropylene film, coated with a chlorine-containing polymer, such as polyvinylidene chloride homopolymer and/or copolymer, and having a primer therebetween. First, a caustic solution is formulated containing from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % caustic, and from about 0.05 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. % of a wetting agent. The formulated caustic solution is heated to a temperature from about 25 degrees C. to about 140 degrees C. The polyolefin material is soaked in the heated caustic solution until the material is separable from the chlorine-containing polymer. After separating the polyolefin material from the chlorine-containing polymer, the material is reprocessed into desired product by extrusion, molding or other product forming process.
Inventors
- 👤 Tien-Kuei Su
- 👤 Kenneth L. Lilly, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:35
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J11/00; C08J11/04; C08J11/06; C08J2323/00; C08J2323/02; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/62; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/911; Y10S264/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of reprocessing polyolefin material coated with a chlorine-containing polymer comprising the steps of: formulating a caustic solution comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of caustic, and from about 0.05 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. % of a wetting agent; heating said caustic solution to a temperature from about 25° C. to about 140° C.; soaking the coated polyolefin material in the heated caustic solution until said polyolefin material is separable from said chlorine-containing polymer coating, said polyolefin material becoming separable by the caustic selectively reacting with said chlorine-containing polymer to form a chloride salt and a dehydrochlorinated polymer; separating said polyolefin material from said dehydrochlorinated polymer and said caustic solution; and subjecting the separated polyolefin material to a heat generating product forming process.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of reprocessing polyolefin material coated with a chlorine-containing polymer comprising the steps of: formulating a caustic solution comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of caustic, and from about 0.05 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. % of a wetting agent; heating said caustic solution to a temperature from about 25° C. to about 140° C.; soaking the coated polyolefin material in the heated caustic solution until said polyolefin material is separable from said chlorine-containing polymer coating, said polyolefin material becoming separable by the caustic selectively reacting with said chlorine-containing polymer to form a chloride salt and a dehydrochlorinated polymer; separating said polyolefin material from said dehydrochlorinated polymer and said caustic solution; and subjecting the separated polyolefin material to a heat generating product forming process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutene and blends thereof; said chlorine-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, and blends thereof; said caustic is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide; said caustic solution comprises from about 5 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of said caustic, and from about 0.08 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. % of said wetting agent; and said caustic solution is heated to a temperature from about 80° C. to about 120° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said chlorine-containing polymer is polyvinylidene chloride homopolymer and/or copolymer (PVdC), and wherein a primer is between said polyolefin material and said PVdC coating, and further comprising applying a mechanical force to the heated caustic solution to accelerate separation of said polyolefin material from said PVdC.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of reprocessing polypropylene material coated with a polyvinylidene chloride homopolymer and/or copolymer (PVdC) comprising the steps of: (a) formulating a caustic solution comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of caustic, and from about 0.05 wt % to about 1.0 wt. % of a wetting agent; (b) heating said caustic solution to a temperature from about 25° C. to about 140° C.; and (c) soaking the PVdC coated polypropylene material in the heated caustic solution until said polypropylene material is separable from said PVdC.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of reprocessing polypropylene material coated with a polyvinylidene chloride homopolymer and/or copolymer (PVdC) comprising the steps of: (a) formulating a caustic solution comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of caustic, and from about 0.05 wt % to about 1.0 wt. % of a wetting agent; (b) heating said caustic solution to a temperature from about 25° C. to about 140° C.; and (c) soaking the PVdC coated polypropylene material in the heated caustic solution until said polypropylene material is separable from said PVdC.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said polypropylene material is biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP) film, and wherein a primer is between said OPP and said PVdC.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising applying a mechanical force to the heated caustic solution to accelerate separation of said OPP film from said PVdC and said primer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the mechanical force is generated by a mechanism applying stirring, water jet, ultrasonic, vibratory and/or friction force.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said friction force is applied by scraping or wiping said PVdC off said OPP film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of: (d) transferring the PVdC coated OPP film from said heated caustic solution in step (c) to a water solution; and (e) applying a mechanical force to the heated caustic solution to accelerate separation of said OPP film from said PVdC and said primer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said caustic solution comprises from about 5 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of said caustic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said caustic solution comprises from about 0.08 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. % of said wetting agent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said caustic solution is heated to a temperature from about 80° C. to about 120° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said caustic is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said wetting agent is sodium lauryl sulfate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the solvent in said caustic solution is organic or aqueous.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the organic solvent is methanol and/or DMSO.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said primer is polyethyleneimine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said PVdC coated OPP film is in a particle size from about 1/8 inch to about 6 inches.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said PVdC coated OPP film is in a particle size from about 1/8 inch to about 1/4 inch fluff.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising: separating said polypropylene material from said PVdC and said caustic solution; and subjecting the separated polypropylene material to a heat generating product forming process.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for reprocessing polyolefin material coated with a chlorine-containing polymer comprising: a vessel for separating said chlorine-containing polymer from said polyolefin material; means for supplying a caustic solution to said vessel having a formulation comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of caustic, and from about 0.05 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. % of a wetting agent; means for heating said caustic solution to a temperature of from about 25° C. to about 140° C.; means for supplying said coated polyolefin material to said vessel; and means for applying a mechanical force to said solution and said coated polyolefin material to accelerate (1) separation of said polyolefin material from said chlorine-containing polymer and (2) formation of a reaction product of said caustic solution and said chlorine-containing polymer.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for reprocessing polyolefin material coated with a chlorine-containing polymer comprising: a vessel for separating said chlorine-containing polymer from said polyolefin material; means for supplying a caustic solution to said vessel having a formulation comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of caustic, and from about 0.05 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. % of a wetting agent; means for heating said caustic solution to a temperature of from about 25° C. to about 140° C.; means for supplying said coated polyolefin material to said vessel; and means for applying a mechanical force to said solution and said coated polyolefin material to accelerate (1) separation of said polyolefin material from said chlorine-containing polymer and (2) formation of a reaction product of said caustic solution and said chlorine-containing polymer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 21 further comprising: means operatively connected to said vessel for separating said caustic solution, said reaction product and said polyolefin material into respective streams; means for recycling the caustic solution stream to said vessel; a solids waste holding tank; means for transporting the reaction product stream to said solids waste holding tank; means for rinsing and drying the polyolefin stream; and means for pelletizing the dried polyolefin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3819773A
Cited
US4073661A
Cited
US4138534A
Cited
US4098996A
Cited
JPS53141376A
Cited
JPS55166221A
Cited
US4368274A
Cited
GB2130124A
Cited
US4643861A
Cited
US4826897A
Cited
US4877821A
Cited
US5066434A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-14 | 1997-08-16 | 1998-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-14 | 2001-08-16 | 2002-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-14 | 2005-08-16 | 2006-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |