| abstract |
A method of the continuous depolymerization of a polyester, polycarbonate, or polylactic acid which comprises continuously passing both a supercritical fluid and an organic solvent solution of the polyester, polycarbonate, or polylactic acid through a column packed with a hydrolase to depolymerize the polyester, polycarbonate, or polylactic acid by the action of the hydrolase and separating a depolymerization product from the reaction mixture which contains the depolymerization product and flows out from the hydrolase-packed column; and an apparatus for continuous depolymerization for use in the continuous depolymerization method, which comprises a device for producing a supercritical fluid, a column packed with a hydrolase, a back pressure regulator, a means for separating a depolymerization product from a reaction mixture containing the depolymerization product, a means for sending the supercritical fluid produced by the device for supercritical-fluid production to the column, and a means for sending an organic solvent solution of a polyester, polycarbonate, or polylactic acid to the column. |