| abstract |
Polyester polymer is recovered from mixed collections of fibers in the form of fibers, filaments, yarns, or fabrics (including dyed or undyed fibers other than polyester fibers as well as dyed polyester fibers) and used in the production of new undyed fibers, by solvent stripping the dye from the polyester fibers without dissolving the fibers, and with additional solvent, selectively dissolving the polyester fibers in successive but functionally integrated steps; separating the dissolved fibers from an undissolved impurities and thereafter separating the residual dye-stripping solvent and the additional solvent from the polyester component without precipitiating the polyester component from solution by evaporating the solvent, preferably by atmospheric boiling and vacuum finishing of the molten solution. |