Biopolyolysis - a new biopathway for recycling waste polyurethane foams

Chemolysis of the same foams using diethylene glycol played the role of a comparative reaction. The obtained rebiopolyols were characterized by hydroxyl numbers comparable to those of the biopolyols and significantly lower than those of typical recyclates obtained in the glycolysis reaction. This type of research has not yet been described in the literature.

The new biocomponents obtained as a result of the polyolysis reaction were used to produce open-cell foams in which 100% of the petrochemical polyol was replaced with a rebiopolyol. The resulting foam materials were characterized by a thermal conductivity coefficient of about 36 mW/m·K, density of about 15 kg/m3 and compressive strength of about 50 kPa.