Process and Apparatus for Utilizing Oxygen-Containing Polymers

Abstract

A process is described for converting and utilizing oxygen-containing polymers to form hydrogen and alkali metal carbonates, in which the polymers are brought into intimate contact with a melt mixture of alkali metal hydroxide and alkali metal carbonate to form hydrogen and alkali metal carbonate, and the alkali metal carbonate formed is removed from the reaction mixture during the reaction and alkali metal hydroxide is optionally metered in. The reaction is preferably carried out under conditions which lie on a point on the Liquidus line of the system. It is possible in accordance with the invention to process natural or synthetic polymers, for example polyester, polyether, wood, etc. It is particularly suitable for processing fiber-reinforced composite materials. Also described is an apparatus for performing the process according to the invention.

1 . An apparatus for reacting oxygen-containing polymers to form hydrogen and alkali metal carbonates as defined in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a reactor ( 1 ) for receiving reaction components and for carrying out the reaction and also an apparatus ( 2 ) for mixing or mingling the reaction material,   a stock reservoir vessel ( 5 ) for receiving alkali metal hydroxide and also a feed line ( 4 ) for feeding the alkali metal hydroxide into the reactor,   a stock reservoir vessel ( 7 ) for receiving the polymers and a feed line ( 6 ) for feeding the polymers into the reactor,   an exit line ( 8 ) for removing the resulting hydrogen,   an apparatus ( 9 ) for transporting the resulting alkali metal carbonate through an exit line ( 10 ) into a stock reservoir vessel ( 11 ),   an apparatus ( 12 ) and also feed lines ( 14   a - e ) for feeding inert gas for the purpose of expelling oxygen from the space ( 3 ) in the reactor above the melt surface and from the stock reservoir vessels  5  and  7  and also the associated lines  4  and  6 , and   a combined heating and cooling system which is operated with the aid of heat transfer media or electrical devices and is suitable for heat recovery;   wherein at least a quantity of alkali metal hydroxide is made available, and a concentration of alkali metal hydroxide is maintained in the reaction mixture during the reaction, which are sufficient to start and maintain an exothermic reaction of alkali metal hydroxide together with the oxygen-containing polymers.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a feed line for feeding free or bound oxygen underneath the melt surface.