Abstract: A system for continuously treating recycled polystyrene material includes a hopper/densifier configured to feed recycled polystyrene material into the system. An extruder can turn the recycled polystyrene material into a molten material. In some embodiments, the extruder uses thermal fluids, electric heaters, and/or a separate heater. Solvents, such as toluene, xylenes, cymenes, and/or terpinenes can aid in generating the molten material. The molten material can be depolymerized in a reactor and a catalyst can be used to aid the depolymerizing. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is contained in a permeable container. In some embodiments, copolymers/monomers are grafted onto the depolymerized material. The depolymerized molten material can be cooled via a heat exchanger. The product can be isolated by extraction, distillation, and/or separation. In some embodiments, the product is treated through filtration and absorption media. In some embodiments, multiple reactors are used.

Abstract: A system for continuously treating recycled polymeric material includes a hopper configured to feed the recycled polymeric material into the system. An extruder can turn the recycled polymeric material in a molten material. In some embodiments, the extruder uses thermal fluids, electric heaters, and/or a separate heater. The molten material is depolymerized in a reactor. In some embodiments, a catalyst is used to aid in depolymerizing the material. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is contained in a permeable container. The depolymerized molten material can then be cooled via a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, multiple reactors are used. In certain embodiments, these reactors are connected in series. In some embodiments, the reactor(s) contain removable static mixer(s) and/or removable annular inserts.

Abstract: An improved method forms and employs a wax to modify asphalt. The method includes: (a) selecting a solid polymeric material, (b) heating the solid polymeric material in an extruder to produce a molten polymeric material, (c) filtering the molten polymeric material, (d) placing the molten polymeric material through a chemical depolymerization process in a reactor to produce a depolymerized polymeric material, and (e) adding the depolymerized material to a pre-wax mixture to produce a polymer-modified asphalt. The addition of wax reduced the mixing time necessary to achieve improved polymer dispersion compared to the control formulation modified bitumen and reduced the viscosity of the neat bitumen. Pre-polymer addition of wax is detrimental to most properties of the resulting modified asphalt. Post-polymer addition improved viscosity reduction, higher softening point and improved dimensional stability.

Abstract: A system for continuously treating recycled polystyrene material includes a hopper/densifier configured to feed recycled polystyrene material into the system. An extruder can turn the recycled polystyrene material into a molten material. In some embodiments, the extruder uses thermal fluids, electric heaters, and/or a separate heater. Solvents, such as toluene, xylenes, cymenes, and/or terpinenes can aid in generating the molten material. The molten material can be depolymerized in a reactor and a catalyst can be used to aid the depolymerizing. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is contained in a permeable container. In some embodiments, copolymers/monomers are grafted onto the depolymerized material. The depolymerized molten material can be cooled via a heat exchanger. The product can be isolated by extraction, distillation, and/or separation. In some embodiments, the product is treated through filtration and absorption media. In some embodiments, multiple reactors are used.

Abstract: A system for continuously treating recycled polymeric material includes a hopper configured to feed the recycled polymeric material into the system. An extruder can turn the recycled polymeric material in a molten material. In some embodiments, the extruder uses thermal fluids, electric heaters, and/or a separate heater. The molten material is depolymerized in a reactor. In some embodiments, a catalyst is used to aid in depolymerizing the material. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is contained in a permeable container. The depolymerized molten material can then be cooled via a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, multiple reactors are used. In certain embodiments, these reactors are connected in series. In some embodiments, the reactor(s) contain removable static mixer(s) and/or removable annular inserts.

Abstract: An improved method forms and employs a wax to modify throughputs and melt flow in polymers. The method includes: (a) selecting a solid polymeric material, (b) heating the solid polymeric material in an extruder to produce a molten polymeric material, (c) filtering the molten polymeric material, (d) placing the molten polymeric material through a chemical depolymerization process in a reactor to produce a depolymerized polymeric material, and (e) adding the depolymerized material to a pre-wax mixture to produce a modified polymer.

Abstract: A method for purifying polymers made from depolymerization of plastic can include selecting a polymer for purification, adding the polymer to a reaction vessel with a solvent, heating the mixture to promote migration of contaminants from the polymer to the solvent, performing an extraction technique to remove contaminants, depressurizing the reaction vessel to isolate a purified polymer, and allowing the purified polymer to cool. In some embodiments, the polymer is a polyethylene polymer. In other embodiments, the polymer is a polypropylene polymer. In some embodiments, the polymer is a polystyrene polymer. In some embodiments, the extraction technique is supercritical fluid extraction using supercritical CO2 as a solvent. Parameters including temperature, pressure, duration, agitation rate, starting solvent volume, and co-solvent addition for supercritical fluid extraction can be selected based on the properties of the polymer to be purified.

Abstract: An improved method forms and employs a wax to modify asphalt. The method includes: (a) selecting a solid polymeric material, (b) heating the solid polymeric material in an extruder to produce a molten polymeric material, (c) filtering the molten polymeric material, (d) placing the molten polymeric material through a chemical depolymerization process in a reactor to produce a depolymerized polymeric material, and (e) adding the depolymerized material to a pre-wax mixture to produce a polymer-modified asphalt. The addition of wax reduced the mixing time necessary to achieve improved polymer dispersion compared to the control formulation modified bitumen and reduced the viscosity of the neat bitumen. Pre-polymer addition of wax is detrimental to most properties of the resulting modified asphalt. Post-polymer addition improved viscosity reduction, higher softening point and improved dimensional stability.

Abstract: A system for continuously treating recycled polymeric material includes a hopper configured to feed the recycled polymeric material into the system. An extruder can turn the recycled polymeric material in a molten material. In some embodiments, the extruder uses thermal fluids, electric heaters, and/or a separate heater. The molten material is depolymerized in a reactor. In some embodiments, a catalyst is used to aid in depolymerizing the material. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is contained in a permeable container. The depolymerized molten material can then be cooled via a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, multiple reactors are used. In certain embodiments, these reactors are connected in series. In some embodiments, the reactor(s) contain removable static mixer(s) and/or removable annular inserts.

Abstract: A process for converting a molten polymeric material is provided. The process includes effecting disposition of a molten polymeric material, having at least one carbon-carbon double bond, in sufficient proximity to a catalyst material within a reaction zone, to affect a reactive process that effects generation of a reaction product. The reactive process effects cleaving of at least one carbon-carbon double bond. The catalyst material includes [Fe—Cu—Mo—P]/Al2O3 prepared by binding a ferrous-copper complex to an alumina support to generate an intermediate material and reacting the intermediate material with a heteropolyacid.

Abstract: A process for converting a molten polymeric material is provided. The process includes effecting disposition of a molten polymeric material, having at least one carbon-carbon double bond, in sufficient proximity to a catalyst material within a reaction zone, to effect a reactive process that effects generation of a reaction product. The reactive process effects cleaving of at least one carbon-carbon double bond. The catalyst material includes [Fe—Cu—Mo—P]/Al2O3 prepared by binding a ferrous-copper complex to an alumina support to generate an intermediate material, and reacting the intermediate material with a heteropolyacid.

Abstract: A process for converting a molten polymeric material is provided. The process includes effecting disposition of a molten polymeric material, having at least one carbon-carbon double bond, in sufficient proximity to a catalyst material within a reaction zone, to effect a reactive process that effects generation of a reaction product. The reactive process effects cleaving of at least one carbon-carbon double bond. The catalyst material includes [Fe—Cu—Mo—P]/Al203 prepared by binding a ferrous-copper complex to an elumina support to generate an intermediate material, and reacting the intermediate material with heteropolyacid.

Abstract: In a process for converting mixed polyethylene waste to make waxes and grease base stocks through catalytic depolymerization, the mixed polyethylene waste is preheated to form a molten mixed polyethylene waste. Then, depolymerization reaction of the molten mixed polyethylene waste is started. The depolymerization reaction uses a catalyst in a high pressure reactor at a desired temperature using heaters in the high pressure reactor. The catalyst is disposed on a stirring blade. Progression of depolymerization reaction of the molten mixed polyethylene waste is allowed to continue until a pressure in the high pressure reactor reaches a desired value. The heaters are turned off and depolymerization reaction of the molten mixed polyethylene waste is stopped upon the pressure in the reactor reaching desired value. The mixed polyethylene waste is converted to wax or grease base stock.