The invention discloses a method for recovering polyether from waste
metal processing liquid and application of the polyether in concrete
slump retaining agent. The method for recovering the polyether from the waste
metal processing liquid comprises the following steps: adding inorganic base to water-based waste
metal processing liquid containing the polyether to adjust the pH value of the waste metal processing liquid to 10-12, standing the waste metal processing liquid for reaction, filtering, adding
activated carbon and an inorganic acid to adjust the pH value of the waste metal processing liquid, heating to the temperature above the
cloud point temperature, layering solution, standing at constant temperature, taking polyether phase on the upper layer, adding anti-oxidant to the polyether phase, and fully
drying to remove water until the
water content is 0.05 percent by weight or less to obtain the
reaction product which is polyether. The following raw materials are needed when the polyether is applied to the concrete
slump retaining agent: a catalyst,
maleic anhydride, water, sulfonated
styrene and an initiator in addition to the polyether. The polyether and the
maleic anhydride are directly subjected to the
esterification reaction under the heating condition without adding
organic solvent and water and adopting a condensing and refluxing device, thus the
equipment requirement and the production cost are reduced, and the production safety is improved. The prepared concrete
slump retaining agent has good slump retaining performance, high water reducing rate and good compatibility with
cement.