CHEMICAL RECYCLING OF WASTE POLYSTYRENE INTO STYRENE EVER SOLID ACIDS AND BASES

Catalytic degradation of waste polystyrene into styrene was studied using solid acids and bases as catalysts. Partially because of the high yield of distillates from polystyrene and partially because of the high selectivity into styrene in the distillates, solid bases were emphasized to be effective catalysts for the chemical recycling of waste polystyrene. Since there were significant differences in the compositions of distillates yielded on solid acids and bases, degradation mechanisms to styrene and other products on these materials were also briefly discussed. Finally, in order to make a design for disassembly of waste polystyrene into styrene, barium oxide powders, the most effective catalyst for the chemical recycling of waste polystyrene, were dispersed into polystyrene pieces when molded into thin films. Thermal degradation of these films into styrene was successfully carried out without the assistance of any other catalytic compounds.