Degradation of waste polycarbonate compact disc (CD) powder using various chloroaluminate (III) ionic liquids and chloroaluminate (III) ionic liquid/inorganic acid systems as reaction medium was investigated under atmospheric pressure and at a temperature range from 100 to 180 ℃. It was observed that 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium heptachlorodialuminate/H_2SO_4 system ([BMIM][AlCl_4], AlCl_3 = 67 mol%) was the most active catalytic medium for the degradation of waste polycarbonate compact disc powder. At 100 ℃, the main degradated product was diphenyl carbonate and a 63% of yield of diphenyl carbonate was achieved after 72 h.

Key words: POLYCARBONATE, DEGRADATION, CATALYSIS, POLYCARBONATE, GLYOXALINE P