Abstract: Polyol is recovered from polyurethane waste foam and thereafter used to produce high quality new foam. The foam is dissolved in a saturated alcohol, preferably diethylene glycol, having a boiling point between 220.degree. C. and 280.degree. C. at a temperature between 185.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. under a non-oxidizing atmosphere such as nitrogen. Water and an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst, preferably sodium hydroxide, are added to the solution which is then refluxed at a temperature of between about 175.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. still under a non-oxidizing atmosphere until all the carbamates produced during dissolution have been hydrolyzed to amines and alcohol. At least a portion of the solution is subjected to vacuum purification at a temperature below about 230.degree. C. Substantially pure polyol is recovered. Preferably, prior to vacuum distillation, water is removed from the solution.

Abstract: Polyol is recovered from polyether based polyurethane foam by a process which includes reacting the foam with an alcohol, preferably a glycol ether, whose boiling point is between 225.degree. C. and 280.degree. C. at a temperature between 185.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. Thereafter, superheated steam is bubbled through the solution to hydrolyze substantially all the carbamate produced during dissolution to amines and alcohols, preferably in the presence of sodium hydroxide. During hydrolysis, the temperature of the solution is maintained at between 185.degree. C. and 220.degree. C. and the solution volume is maintained by adding alcohol to replace that removed by the steam. At least a portion of the solution is subjected to vacuum purification at a temperature below about 230.degree. C. The portion of the solution subjected to vacuum purification may be the polyol layer which forms after the hydrolyzed solution has been allowed to stand.