Mohawk Carpet Distribution, Inc.

Mohawk Carpet Corporation

James A Lindsey

Paul Meredith

Various embodiments of the present invention generally provide processes for recovering and/or using one or more constituent components of carpeting. More specifically, various embodiments provide processes for reclaiming a filler material from carpet as well as processes for using the recovered filler material in subsequent carpet manufacturing processes. The present filler recovery processes can provide recycled filler material, which can be extracted at various stages of processing, and in different purities, depending on the subsequent need or use for the recovered filler material. In some instances, the filler recovery processes described herein can be implemented as sub-processes for recycling other carpet components.

Filler recovery processes

A component recovery process to recover one or more of the constituent components of a feed material. In one embodiment, the process is a carpet recycling process, the feed material being carpet, and the constituent components being fiber, filler and adhesive. The process can refine the polypropylene backing polymer and face fibers of post industrial edge trim selvage, whole carpet construction post industrial scraps and pieces, as well as whole carpet post consumer scraps and pieces and in particular mixtures there of. The process beneficially uses land filled edge trim and pre land filled selvage, whole carpet construction scraps and whole carpet post consumer scraps and mixtures there of for component purification.

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Cartersville, GA, United States of America

James A Lindsey