Recycling of Polyurethanes

Polyurethanes (PUs) are among the popular industrial polymers. PUs are the condensation products of isocyanates and diols. The isocyanates are generally toxic, and replacement of the starting materials with greener methods is required. Non-isocyanate routes can be adopted. The disadvantage of the PU materials is not limited to the toxicity; the serious issue is related to the environment. The popularity of the PU materials, without any doubt, produces a large amount of postconsumer waste, which needs proper disposal. To add to the adverse effects of PU, the disposal methods adopted are not systematic and result in the production of tons of waste each year. PU has the benefit of being recyclable. The PU can be degraded or decomposed, or it can regenerate the polyols and other components. The chapter briefly describes the different methods tested for the effective recycling of PUs.