Catalytic hydrothermal depolymerization of nylon 6

Depolymerization of nylon 6 to produce ε-caprolactam using an environmentally friendly heteropoly acid catalyst was studied at temperatures between 553 and 603 K in water. The products of depolymerization were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by means of mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the depolymerized product was mainly ε-caprolactam with a little 6-aminocaproic acid and oligomers. The phosphotungstic heteropoly acid used as a catalyst can improve the hydrolysis rate and yield of ε-caprolactam. The optimum hydrolysis conditions for ε-caprolactam yield were as follows: phosphotungstic heteropoly acid content, 3%; reaction temperature, 573 K; and reaction time, 85 min. Under these conditions, the yield of ε-caprolactam was 77.96%. In the temperature range 553–603 K, the activation energy of 3% phosphotungstic heteropoly acid-catalyzed depolymerization was evaluated as 77.38 kJ/mol, which is lower than the 86.64 kJ/mol value for no catalyst.