Recycling of Flexible Polyurethane Foams Using Glycolysis

Sarah Pezzenti, Florida Institute of Technology
Tyler D'Amato, Florida Institute of Technology
Susan Nelson, Florida Institute of Technology
Antonella Merola, Florida Institute of Technology

Abstract

Polyurethane (PU), commonly used in products like mattresses, furniture, and insulation, is often landfilled at end-of-life, especially in bulky, nondegradable forms like mattresses. This project explores industrial-scale recycling of PU foam from discarded mattresses using a split-phase glycolysis process.