Waste solvolysis process
Thermal treatment of waste - Thermochemical processes

The decomposition of waste can be achieved by immersion in a solvent, known as solvolysis. This can be used, for example, to depolymerize plastic compounds or devulcanize latex... The solvent acts as a heat carrier, chain transfer agent and solvent for the products obtained.

Cellulosic compounds are solvolysed at room temperature, in aqueous solutions containing concentrated mineral acids (HCl, HNO₃ , H₃PO₄ ...) or strong bases (LiOH, NaOH...), as well as in organic solvents (Dimethylformamide DMF, Dimethylsulfoxide DMSO), in combination with an inorganic reagent (SO₂ , N₂O₄ ...). The same applies to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents.

Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are polymers with a high degree of crystallinity. This results in a lattice energy that adds to other cohesive energies....