DEWATERING DEVULCANIZED RUBBER

A method for the controlled removal of water from devulcanized rubber, comprising steps of contacting the devulcanized rubber with a solvent, dissolving the water out of the devulcanized rubber and into solution without removing other components in the rubber such as polymer, separating the devulcanized rubber from the solvent, and drying the devulcanized rubber. By controlling the amount of water that is in the solvent-solution, and/or the amount of time the devulcanized rubber is in contact with the solvent solution the amount of water that is removed can be controlled. By controlling the amount of water that is removed the rheology/viscosity (e.g. G′ and G″) of the devulcanized rubber can be controlled. 1. A method of dewatering devulcanized rubber comprising:bringing devulcanized rubber and a water-soluble solvent into contact;maintaining the devulcanized rubber-solvent contact for a period of time sufficient to dissolve a portion of the water from the devulcanized rubber;separating the devulcanized rubber and solvent; anddrying the devulcanized rubber.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a polar solvent.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is in a solvent solution.4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the solvent solution is a solution of the solvent and water.5. The method of claim 4 , wherein an amount of water in the solvent solution is used to control an amount of water dissolved from the devulcanized rubber.6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the solvent solution is a solution of the solvent and a second solvent.7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent has a low affinity for rubber polymers.8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is at least one of methanol claim 1 , ethanol claim 1 , propanol claim 1 , acetone claim 1 , acetonitrile claim 1 , dimethylformanmide claim 1 , dioxane claim 1 , and butanol.9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the solvent is at least one of methanol claim 8 , ethanol claim 8 , and acetonitrile.10. ...

VENT CLEANING OF RUBBER MOLDS

Vents and micro-structures of rubber molds may become clogged with rubber that is difficult to remove. These vents and micro-structures can be cleaned of rubber, even if heat aged, by subjecting the mold to high temperatures in the presence of a solvent to devulcanize any rubber present. If the rubber used with the mold being cleaned includes carbon black, a solvent may be used to dissolve the devulcanized polymer, leaving the carbon black which can be removed by water jets or other cleaning means. 1. A method of removing vulcanized rubber having filler from a structure comprising:subjecting the structure and the vulcanized rubber to a high temperature of between 250° C. and 320° C. in the presence of a devulcanization solvent for a reaction time sufficient to devulcanize the vulcanized rubber;subjecting the structure and devulcanized rubber to a dissolving solvent to dissolve rubber polymer from the devulcanized rubber; andremoving filler remaining from the vulcanized rubber from the structure.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pre-treating the structure and the vulcanized rubber with the devulcanization solvent.3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pre-treating is carried out at an elevated temperature at about the boiling point of the devulcanization solvent.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vulcanized rubber on the structure comprises heat aged vulcanized rubber.5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises one or more mold surfaces of a mold.6. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the one or more mold surfaces comprises at least one of:a surface within a vent of the mold;a surface of a micro-slot vent of the mold;a surface of a micro-structure of the mold;a surface of a spring vent within the mold; anda surface between puzzle mold pieces.7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the devulcanization solvent and the dissolving solvent are the same solvent.8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the devulcanization solvent and the ...

reactor and reactor system for high temperature and high pressure reactions

<B>REATOR E SISTEMA DE REATORES PARA REAÇÕES DE ALTA TEMPERATURA E ALTA PRESSçO<D>A presente invenção refere-se a um reator e um sistema de reatores para realizar reações de alta temperatura e alta pressão. O reator tem um recipiente interno isolável para permitir a energia térmica refrigerar e aquecer de modo eficiente o reator. O reator compreende um reator externadaptado para suportar uma pressão de reação e uma temperatura de reação, o reator externo tendo uma tampa de reator vedável; um recipiente interno dentro do reator externo para conter uma solução de reação e pelo menos um recipiente de reação, o recipiente interno sendo aberto para o reator externo tal que a pressão de reação do recipiente interno e do reator externo são substancialmente igualadas e o vapor no recipiente interno passa para o recipiente externo, o recipiente interno tendo uma proteção de respingo para impedir substancialmente o derramamento da solução de reação do recipiente interno dentro do reator externo; um injetor de vapor em comunicação com o recipiente interno para injetar vapor dentro do recipiente interno para aquecer a solução de reação; uma sida no recipiente externo para esgotar o vapor do reator externo e do recipiente interno; e uma saída de reator externo para drenar um líquido contido entre no reator externo e o recipiente interno. <B> REACTOR AND REACTOR SYSTEM FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HIGH PRESSURE REACTIONS <D> The present invention relates to a reactor and a reactor system to perform high temperature and high pressure reactions. The reactor has an insulated internal container to allow thermal energy to cool and efficiently heat the reactor. The reactor comprises an external reactor adapted to withstand a reaction pressure and a reaction temperature, the external reactor having a sealable reactor cover; an internal container inside the external reactor to contain a reaction solution and at least one reaction container, the internal container ...

Rubber reduction

A method of reducing vulcanized rubber is provided. The method comprises the steps of heating the rubber, wherein the rubber includes synthetic rubber, in the presence of a solvent, wherein the solvent includes water to a temperature below a critical temperature of the solvent, providing a pressure that is at least equal to a saturated vapour pressure of the solvent at the temperature and maintaining the temperature and the pressure for a time sufficient to devulcanize the rubber and produce a reaction product that is primarily a solid phase and includes rubber hydrocarbon.

Dual vessel reactor

A dual vessel reactor and a method of carrying out a reaction using a dual vessel reactor are provided using a non-condensable gas to substantially isolate the inner vessel from the outer vessel during the reaction and limit the heating of the outer vessel when steam from the inner vessel condenses on the interior surface of the outer vessel. By limiting the heating of the outer vessel through the condensation of the steam or other vapour from the inner vessel, the operating temperature of the outer vessel is kept below an upper threshold of the operating temperature of a seal used to seal the door in the outer vessel.

Reactor and reactor system for high temperature and high pressure reactions

A reactor and a reactor system for carrying out high temperature and high pressure reactions is disclosed herein. The reactor has an isolatable inner vessel for allowing for heat energy efficient cooling and heating of the reactor. The reactor comprises an outer reactor adapted for withstanding a reaction pressure and a reaction temperature, the outer reactor having a sealable reactor lid; an inner vessel within the outer reactor for containing a reaction solution and at least one reaction vessel, the inner vessel being open to the outer reactor such that the reaction pressure of the inner vessel and the outer reactor are substantially equalized and vapour in the inner vessel passes to the outer vessel, the inner vessel having a splatter shield for substantially preventing spillage of the reaction solution from the inner vessel into the outer reactor; a vapour injector in communication with the inner vessel for injecting vapour into the inner vessel for heating the reaction solution; an outlet in the outer vessel for exhausting vapour from the outer reactor and the inner vessel; and an outer reactor outlet for draining a liquid contained between the outer reactor and the inner vessel.

A method of carrying out a batch-style reaction in at least two reactors

A high temperature and pressure reaction process allows a reaction to be carried out in a first reactor and heat transferred from the first reactor to a second reactor to cool the first reactor and heat the second reactor. The heat transfer is accomplished by venting pressure from the first reactor to the second reactor which generates steam in the first reactor. The high pressure steam is vented into the second reactor to heat the second reactor.

Rubber reduction

A method of reducing vulcanized rubber is provided. The method comprises the steps of heating the rubber, wherein the rubber includes synthetic rubber, in the presence of a solvent, wherein the solvent includes water to a temperature below a critical temperature of the solvent, providing a pressure that is at least equal to a saturated vapour pressure of the solvent at the temperature and maintaining the temperature and the pressure for a time sufficient to devulcanize the rubber and produce a reaction product that is primarily a solid phase and includes rubber hydrocarbon.

Dual vessel reactor.

La presente invención se refiere a un reactor de doble recipiente y a un método para llevar a cabo una reacción utilizando un reactor de doble recipiente, utilizando un gas no condensable para aislar substancialmente el recipiente interno del recipiente externo durante la reacción y limitar el calentamiento del recipiente externo cuando el vapor desde el recipiente interno se condensa sobre la superficie interna del recipiente externo. Por la limitación del calentamiento del recipiente externo por medio de la condensación del vapor u otro vapor desde el recipiente interno, la temperatura operativa del recipiente externo es mantenida abajo de un umbral superior de la temperatura operativa de un sello utilizado para sellar la puerta en el recipiente externo.

Rubber reduction

A method of reducing vulcanized rubber is provided. The method comprises the steps of heating the rubber, wherein the rubber includes synthetic rubber, in the presence of a solvent, wherein the solvent includes water to a temperature below a critical temperature of the solvent, providing a pressure that is at least equal to a saturated vapour pressure of the solvent at the temperature and maintaining the temperature and the pressure for a time sufficient to devulcanize the rubber and produce a reaction product that is primarily a solid phase and includes rubber hydrocarbon.

Reactor and reactor system for high temperature and high pressure reactions

Rubber reduction

A process for reducing rubber is provided. The process includes the steps of providing the rubber to a reactor, providing a solvent to the reactor, elevating a temperature within the reactor to a temperature wherein the temperature is below a critical temperature of the solvent, elevating a pressure within the reactor to a pressure of at least the saturated vapour pressure of the solvent at the temperature, reducing the rubber for a specified time and producing a reaction product.

Separating devulcanized rubber

A method for separating a polymer from carbon black in devulcanized rubber, the method comprising steps of inserting devulcanized rubber into a bath of a solvent, dissolving a polymer out of the devulcanized rubber and into a solution of the solvent and the polymer, removing the solution from the bath without disturbing an un-dissolved residue comprising carbon black, and recovering the un-dissolved residue.

Reduction of rubber

Dual vessel reactor

A dual vessel reactor and a method of carrying out a reaction using a dual vessel reactor are provided using a non-condensable gas to substantially isolate the inner vessel from the outer vessel during the reaction and limit the heating of the outer vessel when steam from the inner vessel condenses on the interior surface of the outer vessel. By limiting the heating of the outer vessel through the condensation of the steam or other vapour from the inner vessel, the operating temperature of the outer vessel is kept below an upper threshold of the operating temperature of a seal used to seal the door in the outer vessel.

Rubber reduction

Removing vulcanized rubber from metal components

Vulcanized rubber can be removed from a metal component such as a pipe by exposing the vulcanized rubber to a swelling agent. The vulcanized rubber absorbs the swelling agent, causing the rubber to swell and put stress on the bond between the rubber and metal. After a sufficient period of time, the vulcanized rubber can be easily removed from the metal component.

Removing vulcanized rubber from metal components

Vulcanized rubber can be removed from a metal component such as a pipe by exposing the vulcanized rubber to a swelling agent. The vulcanized rubber absorbs the swelling agent, causing the rubber to swell and put stress on the bond between the rubber and metal. After a sufficient period of time, the vulcanized rubber can be easily removed from the metal com ponent.