Removal of decabromodibenzyl (DDB) from high impact polystyrene (HIPS), using a solution of NaOH in ethylene glycol (EG)

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23510087
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Environmental technology/Environmental materials
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: GRAUSE Guido 東北大学, 環境科学研究科, 准教授 (60570017)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2013
• Keywords: 高衝撃性ポリスチレン / デカブロモジフェニルエタン / 難燃剤 / ボールミル / 脱臭素

Research Abstract

The purpose of this research was the debromination of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) flame retarded with decabromodiphenylethane in NaOH/ethylene glycol solution.
Using a ball-mill at the most efficient reaction conditions, 190 degree celsius for 24 h at a NaOH concentration of 0.5 M, resulted in a reduction of the bromine content to 0.02% (200 mg/kg) in the residual HIPS. Although without ball-milling only about the half of the debromination was achieved, the reaction proceeded in both cases by diffusion with an activation energy of about 200 kJ/mol. Even though the most of the flame retardant remained in the HIPS causing cross-linking after debromination, phenols were observed as degradation products of the flame retardant.
The debrominated HIPS showed high thermal stability and might be reused by mechanical recycling.

Research Products

• [Presentation] Novel process for the removal of bromine from styrene polymers containing brominated flame retardants (2013)
  • Author(s): Guido Grause, Hisatoshi Tanaka, Thallada Bhaskar, Tomohito Kameda, Toshiaki Yoshioka
  • Organizer: Proceedings of 2013 International Symposium on Environmental Science and Technology
  • Place of Presentation: Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
  • Year and Date: 2013-06-06
• [Presentation] Removal of Brominated Flame-Retardants from High-Impact Polystyrene by Extraction in an Alkaline Organic Medium (2013)
  • Author(s): Guido Grause, Hisatoshi Tanaka, Thallada Bhaskar, Tomohito Kameda, Toshiaki Yoshioka
  • Organizer: The 12th Expert Meeting on Solid Waste Management in Asia and Pacific Islands (12th SWAPI)
  • Place of Presentation: Tokyo, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2013-02-27
• [Presentation] Removal of brominated flame-retardants from high-impact polystyrene by extraction in an alkaline organic medium (2012)
  • Author(s): Guido Grause, Hisatoshi Tanaka, Tomohito Kameda, Toshiaki Yoshioka, Thallada Bhaskar
  • Organizer: Advances in Civil, Environmental, and Materials Research (ACEM'12)
  • Place of Presentation: Seoul, Korea
  • Year and Date: 2012-08-27
• [Presentation] Debromination of high impact polystyrene containing decabromodiphenyl ethane (2011)
  • Author(s): H. Tanaka, G. Grause, T. Kameda, T. Yoshioka
  • Organizer: 6th International Symposium on Feedstock Recycling of Polymeric Materials (ISFR2011)
  • Place of Presentation: Toledo, Spain
  • Year and Date: 2011-10-06