Polimeri Europa S.p.a.

Enichem S.p.a

Marcello Notari

Franco Rivetti

Franco Mizia

Maurizio Ghirardini

Sergio Francantonio Lombardini

Luigi D'Elia

Massimo Manni

The invention relates to the use of dialkyl carbonates as solvents for expanded polystyrene and to a new process for the recycling of expanded polystyrene. Said process comprises the volume reduction of expanded polystyrene by dissolution with a dialkyl carbonate, or a blend of dialkyl carbonates, the removal of the insoluble components by filtration, the selective precipitation of polystyrene with a non-solvent or a blend of non-solvents, the separation, drying and extrusion of the precipitated polystyrene. This process allows the recovery of pure polystyrene without altering its properties.

Use of dialkyl carbonates as solvents for expanded polystyrene

The present invention relates to the use of a mixture, comprising one or more alkyl esters of fatty acids and one or more esters of fatty acids of glycerol carbonate, as a fuel or solvent.

Use of a mixture of esters of fatty acids as fuel or solvent

The invention relates to an enhanced process for the recycling of expanded polystyrene. Said process essentially comprises the reduction in volume of expanded polystyrene by means of dissolution in a solvent, separation of the insoluble components, selective precipitation of the polystyrene with an anti-solvent, separation, drying and extrusion of the precipitated polystyrene, recovery by distillation and recycling of the solvent. The process is characterized in that the anti-solvent is a butanol selected form n-butanol, iso-butanol or sec-butanol and the solvent is dimethyl carbonate, alone or in a mixture containing up to 25% by weight of butanol.

Process for the recycling of expanded polystyrene

The invention relates to the use of a mixture, comprising one or more alkyl esters of fatty acids and one or more esters of fatty acids of glycerol carbonate, as a fuel or solvent.

A process is described for the synthesis of 2-hydroxy-4-alkyloxy benzophenone by the selective alkylation of 2,4-dihydroxy benzophenone with a dialkyl carbonate, in liquid phase, in the presence of suitable catalysts, at a temperature ranging between 120.degree. and 220.degree. C. and at a total pressure ranging from 2 to 60 ate.

Process for the synthesis of 2-hydroxy-4-alkyloxy benzophenone

A process for the alkylation of imides wherein the imides are reacted with a dialkyl carbonate, in the liquid state, at a temperature of between 100.degree. C. and 250.degree. C. and at a pressure of between 0 and 60 atmospheres in the presence of a basic catalyst. The dialkyl carbonate reagents are not very toxic and are thermally stable and their use as alkylation agents makes it possible to produce waste products with a negligible saline content.

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Parma, Italy

Marcello Notari