Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering monomeric units of a nylon from carpet material. The carpet material includes fibres containing nylon bound to a backing containing one or more non-nylon components. The carpet material contains between 15 and 35 wt. % of the nylon. The process includes: a) mechanically separating the carpet material into an enriched carpet mixture containing between 35 and 55 wt. % of said nylon and into a depleted carpet mixture having a lower content of nylon than the carpet material; and b) exposing the enriched carpet mixture to conditions at which depolymerization of the nylon is effected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering monomeric units of a nylon from carpet material, said carpet material comprising fibres containing said nylon bound to a backing containing one or more non-nylon components, the carpet material containing between 15 and 35 wt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for nylon depolymerization, in which process a multi-component material, comprising nylon and one or more non-nylon components, is fed to a depolymerization zone in which depolymerization of at least part of said nylon is effected, resulting in a product stream and a residue, said product stream containing monomers of said nylon, said residue containing non-nylon components, wherein the nylon content in the residue is measured and used to control the depolymerization process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying an impure stream of caprolactam while recovering not only pure caprolactam but also medium-to-high pressure steam. Preferably, the stream of impure or crude caprolactam, which comprises at a minimum a substantial portion of water, is obtained from depolymerization of a polyamide-containing composition. The resulting purified caprolactam will have a purity greater than 90 weight percent and the recovered steam will have a temperature sufficiently high to provide a driving force for use with other equipment, for instance, heat exchange equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying an impure stream of caprolactam while recovering not only pure caprolactam but also medium-to-high pressure steam. Preferably, the stream of impure or crude caprolactam, which comprises at a minimum a substantial portion of water, is obtained from depolymerization of a polyamide-containing composition. The resulting purified caprolactam will have a purity greater than 90 weight percent and the recovered steam will have a temperature sufficiently high to provide a driving force for use with other equipment, for instance, heat exchange equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for nylon depolymerization, in which process a multi-component material, comprising nylon and one or more non-nylon components, is fed to a depolymerization zone in which depolymerization of at least part of said nylon is effected, resulting in a product stream and a residue, said product stream containing monomers of said nylon, said residue containing non-nylon components, wherein the nylon content in the residue is measured and used to control the depolymerization process.