CATALYTIC PYROLYSIS OF NYLON-6 TO RECOVER CAPROLACTAM

Catalytic pyrolysis has been proposed as a possible process for the re covery of caprolactam from waste nylon-6. Promising process conditions , i.e. catalyst and temperature were identified using a micro-scale re actor/molecular-beam mass-spectrometer system. At 330-360 degrees C, i n the presence of alpha-alumina supported KOH, the reaction proceeded at a high rate and selectivity. Only a few minutes were needed to comp lete the nylon-6 depolymerization with a caprolactam yield of 85%. The se results were confirmed in a bench-scale fluidized bed reactor syste m. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.