The invention relates to a process for recovering monomeric units of a
nylon from carpet material. The carpet material includes fibres
containing nylon bound to a backing containing one or more non-nylon
components. The carpet material contains between 15 and 35 wt. % of the
nylon. The process includes: a) mechanically separating the carpet
material into an enriched carpet mixture containing between 35 and 55 wt.
% of said nylon and into a depleted carpet mixture having a lower content
of nylon than the carpet material; and b) exposing the enriched carpet
mixture to conditions at which depolymerization of the nylon is effected.