Patent ID: 7321003

Claim:
A method of reducing/recycling polystyrene foam comprising the steps of (a) providing polystyrene foam; (b) applying to said polystyrene foam a solution comprising: one or more standard dibasic ester (DBE) compositions selected from the group consisting of dimethyl glutarate, dimethyl adipate, and dimethyl succinate; (c) subjecting the resultant polygel to a low source of heat over a temperature range not to exceed 200-300.degree. C.; (d) subjecting the resultant polygel to one or more extruders over a temperature range not to exceed 200-300.degree. C.; and (e) recapturing the dibasic esters; wherein said recaptured dibasic esters are reused or recycled and the resultant polystyrene foam polygel may be recycled into high quality beaded polystyrene foam.