Sorbitol/glycerin/water ternary system as a novel glycolysis agent for flexible polyurethane foam in the chemical recycling using microvawe radiation

Abstract

An eco-friendly and convenient method was performed for recycling of flexible polyurethane foams. Glycerin/sorbitol/water mixture was used as destroying solvent and sodium hydroxide as a catalyst. In all reactions phase separation appeared after complete foam digestion. The upper phase contained recycled polyol and lower phase was a brown liquid that applied in rigid polyurethane foam formulations. The mechanical properties of formulated foams were compared with virgin polyol formulated sample. Reactions were studied using various glycerin/sorbitol/water ratios and the recovered polyols were characterized by spectroscopic methods and data compared with a virgin sample.