Degradation of polymethylmethacrylate in supercritical toluene and tetrahydrofuran

With increasing plastic consumption, its recycling is becoming a major environmental concern. Provided that polymer can be broken down into useful low molecular-weight material, plastic waste can be used as a highly valuable feedstock. The degradation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in supercritical Toluene was carried out in stainless steel autoclave reactor at temperature of 360-480degreesC, pressure of 52-70 bar. In case of PMMA in supercritical Tetrahydrofuran (THF), it was carried out in the same reactor at temperature of 360-480degreesC, pressure of 65-105 bar. Each product was analyzed by GC(FID) and GC/MS. It was found that the weight selectivity of product was influenced by temperature, pressure. It could be controlled by varying these reaction conditions.