Tertiary amine solvents having switchable hydrophilicity

Several tertiary amines serve as switchable-hydrophilicity solvents, meaning that they are hydrophobic solvents having very low miscibility with water when under air but hydrophilic solvents having complete miscibility with water when under an atmosphere of CO(2). Unlike the only previously reported switchable-hydrophilicity solvent, these amines are easily prepared and, in some cases, commercially available. The effect of temperature, gas flow rates, choice of amine and additives on the switching process is described. These solvents can be applied to the recycling of polystyrene foam.