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

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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.