Recycling of multilayer packaging waste with sustainable solvents

Samorì, Chiara; Pitacco, Walter; Vagnoni, Martina; Catelli, Emilio; Colloricchio, Thomas; Gualandi, Chiara; Mantovani, Luciana; Mezzi, A.; Sciutto, Giorgia; Galletti, Paola

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106832

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…It also functions as a polymerization initiator, controlling the properties of the formed polymers and enhancing the processability of certain thermoplastic polymers during extrusion and molding [ 86 , 87 , 88 ]. Additionally, 2-MTHF is employed as a solvent in polymer characterization methods [ 89 , 90 ] and plays a role in polymer recycling processes by aiding in the dissolution and separation of specific polymers from mixed plastic waste for material recovery [ 91 , 92 ]. In extraction and separation processes, 2-MTHF is utilized for its solvating properties, finding application in the extraction of natural products and the purification of organic compounds.…”

Section: 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-mthf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Catalytic Conversion of Levulinic Acid into 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran: A Review

Gundekari,

Karmee

2024

Molecules

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Biomass-derived furanics play a pivotal role in chemical industries, with 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF), a hydrogenated product of levulinic acid (LA), being particularly significant. 2-MTHF finds valuable applications in the fuel, polymer, and chemical sectors, serving as a key component in P-series biofuel and acknowledged as a renewable solvent for various chemical processes. Numerous research groups have explored catalytic systems to efficiently and selectively convert LA to 2-MTHF, using diverse metal-supported catalysts in different solvents under batch or continuous process conditions. This comprehensive review delves into the impact of metal-supported catalysts, encompassing co-metals and co-catalysts, on the synthesis of 2-MTHF from LA. The article also elucidates the influence of different reaction parameters, such as temperature, type and quantity of hydrogen source, and time. Furthermore, the review provides insights into reaction mechanisms for all documented catalytic systems.

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Section: 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-mthf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Catalytic Conversion of Levulinic Acid into 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran: A Review

Gundekari,

Karmee

2024

Molecules

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“…This widely used beverage carton normally consists of 75 wt% of stiff paper, 20 wt% of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and 5 wt% of aluminium foil [ 36 ]. The paper can be recycled through hydropulping, while the LDPE and aluminium foil remain laminated [ 37 ]. In order to further separate the LDPE and the aluminium, Georgiopoulou et al [ 36 ] used xylene to dissolve the LDPE from the Al-PE laminates, followed by filtration to recover the aluminium foil, and then precipitated the LDPE using isopropanol as an antisolvent.…”

Section: Physical Dissolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Samorì et al [ 37 ] tried different sustainable solvents to recover LDPE and aluminium from de-pulped multilayer packaging. The solvents were used to dissolve the LDPE layer and then separate the multilayer structure into single components.…”

Section: Physical Dissolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in Solvent-Based Recycling of Polymers from Multilayer Packaging

Li,

Theodosopoulos,

Lovell

et al. 2024

Polymers

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Conversion of chemical feedstocks derived from fossil fuels to virgin polymer, manufacturing of plastics in coal-dependent economies, and increasing consumption of virgin polymers for plastics packaging contribute significantly to environmental issues and the challenges we face. Nowadays, promoting sustainable development has become the consensus of more and more countries. Among them, the recycling of multilayer packaging is a huge challenge. Due to the complexity of its structure and materials, as well as the limitations of existing recycling frameworks, currently, multilayer packaging cannot be commercially recycled thus resulting in a series of circular economy challenges. It is undeniable that multilayer packaging offers many positive effects on products and consumers, so banning the use of such packaging would be unwise and unrealistic. Developing the appropriate processes to recycle multilayer packaging is the most feasible strategy. In recent years, there have been some studies devoted to the recycling process of multilayer packaging. Many of the processes being developed involve the use of solvents. Based on the recycled products, we categorised these recycling processes as solvent-based recycling, including physical dissolution and chemical depolymerisation. In physical dissolution, there are mainly two approaches named delamination and selective dissolution–precipitation. Focusing on these processes, this paper reviews the solvents developed and used in the last 20 years for the recycling of polymers from multilayer packaging waste and gives a summary of their advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, product quality, ease of processing, and environmental impact. Based on existing research, one could conclude that solvent-based recycling methods have the potential to be commercialised and become part of a standard recycling process for polymer-based multilayer packaging. The combined use of multiple solvent-based recycling processes could be a breakthrough in achieving unified recycling of multilayer packaging with different components.

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“…The enforcement of directives and regulations will tip the balance towards mechanical recycling, in which end-of-life products are collected, sorted, and reprocessed to new products. Contrary to chemical recycling [15], mechanical recycling does not allow the separation of different polymers of multilayer films. Those polymers are processed in the same material stream.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of the Shear Viscosity of Mixed-Polymer Materials for Screw Extrusion-Based Recycling Process Modeling

Kneidinger,

Wagner,

Längauer

et al. 2024

Polymers

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The scope of this work is the development of a method to estimate the temperature and shear rate-dependent viscosity of mixtures composed of two polymers. The viscosity curve of polymer mixtures is crucial for the modeling and optimization of extrusion-based recycling, which is the most efficient way to recycle polymeric materials. The modeling and simulation of screw extruders requires detailed knowledge of the properties of the processed material, such as the thermodynamic properties, the density, and the rheological behavior. These properties are widely known for pure materials; however, the incorporation of impurities, like other polymers in recycled materials, alters the properties. In this work, miscible, immiscible, and compatibilized immiscible polymer mixtures are considered. A new method based on shear stress is proposed and compared to the shear rate-based method. Several mixing rules are evaluated for their accuracy in predicting mixture viscosity. The developed methods allow the prediction of the viscosity of a compatibilized immiscible mixture with deviations below 5% and that of miscible polymer mixtures with deviations below 3.5%.

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Recycling of multilayer packaging waste with sustainable solvents

Cited by 8 publications

References 23 publications

Catalytic Conversion of Levulinic Acid into 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran: A Review

Catalytic Conversion of Levulinic Acid into 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran: A Review

Progress in Solvent-Based Recycling of Polymers from Multilayer Packaging

Estimation of the Shear Viscosity of Mixed-Polymer Materials for Screw Extrusion-Based Recycling Process Modeling

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