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Delamination and Evaluation of Multilayer PE/Al/PET Packaging Waste Separated Using a Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic
Adamantini Loukodimou1, Christopher Lovell2, George Theodosopoulos3
1Materials Innovation Centre, School of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
Polymers
|October 16, 2024
Summary
Novel green solvents effectively separate plastic and aluminum from flexible packaging. This research advances recycling strategies for a circular economy by enabling high-purity material recovery.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Flexible laminate packaging, common in food preservation, poses recycling challenges due to its multilayer structure.
- Materials like poly(ethylene) (PE), poly(propylene) (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), and aluminum (Al) are difficult to separate using conventional methods.
- Existing recycling infrastructure struggles to handle these complex materials, hindering circular economy goals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement innovative strategies for improved sorting, separation, and recycling of flexible laminate packaging.
- To leverage deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the delamination of multilayer packaging.
- To recover high-purity commodity plastics and aluminum for potential reuse.
Main Methods:
- Development of a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (DES).
- Application of a Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology to optimize delamination parameters.
- Laboratory-scale assessment using a 1 L filter reactor, investigating temperature, time, loading, flake size, and perforations.
- Characterization of recovered plastics using Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA).
Main Results:
- Efficient separation of PE, Al, and PET from laminate packaging films was achieved.
- High yields for both material and solvent recovery were demonstrated.
- Characterization confirmed the quality of recovered plastics, indicating suitability for reuse.
Conclusions:
- The developed DES system offers a viable green solvent approach for delaminating multilayer packaging.
- This method facilitates the recovery of valuable materials, supporting the transition towards a circular economy.
- The research provides a scalable laboratory-scale process for enhanced plastic and aluminum recycling from flexible packaging.
