Patent ID: 7745503

Claim:
A process for recycling expanded polystyrene comprising: volume reduction of expanded polystyrene by dissolution in a solution comprising a dialkyl carbonate, or a blend of dialkyl carbonates, having the following general formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and each independently represent a linear, a branched or a cyclic alkyl radical having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and the sum of the carbon atoms of R 1 and R 2 is from 2 to 15; removal of an insoluble component, if present; selective precipitation of polystyrene with a non-solvent, wherein said selective precipitation of polystyrene is carried out at a temperature of 10-70° C., wherein the non-solvent is an alkylene carbonate, or a blend of non-solvents consisting of an alcohol and an alkylene carbonate in a weight ratio of 1:1, and wherein a weight ratio of the non-solvent to the dialkyl carbonate is from 2:1 to 20:1; separation of precipitated polystyrene; and drying of precipitated polystyrene.