Abstract: The invention relates to a process for depolymerising one or more polyamides in the presence of at least an aliphatic alcohol, the depolymerisation taking place with at most 40 mol. % catalyst. This process provides good selectivity towards the monomeric components of polyamides. This process moreover causes as few waste streams as possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating polyamide-containing carpet waste by extracting the polyamide from the carpet waste with an extraction agent containing an aliphatic alcohol. The separated polyamide can then be recovered from the extract and recycled for further use. In addition, carpet waste containing two polyamides can be treated in accordance with the present invention so as to separately recover each polyamide. The process according to the present invention provides a high yield of the polyamide. The presence of other constituents normally present in carpets does not interfere with the separating and recycling of the polyamide.

Abstract: One or more polyamides can be depolymerized in the presence of at least one nitrogen-containing compound. The depolymerization takes place at a pressure between about 0.5 and about 5 atm. The polyamide may be in the form of carpet waste or other heterogeneous form. Advantages include better selectivity towards the polyamide monomeric components and use of low pressure equipment to effect depolymerization.

Abstract: The present invention is for a method of preparing purified .epsilon.-caprolactam from carpet waste containing nylon-6. Contaminated .epsilon.-caprolactam is obtained by depolymerizing nylon-6 from carpet waste. A mixture of the contaminated .epsilon.-caprolactam and water is then hydrogenated in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst in order to produce purified .epsilon.-caprolactam. The amount of contaminated .epsilon.-caprolactam in the mixture can be between 10 and 95% by weight.