Formulation and Characterization of Deep Eutectic Solvents and Potential Application in Recycling Packaging Laminates

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Multilayer packaging materials pose significant recycling challenges due to their complex structures.
• Current disposal methods like landfilling and incineration are environmentally detrimental.
• Development of sustainable recycling methods is crucial for waste management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for delaminating multilayer packaging films.
• To prepare and characterize a range of hydrophobic and hydrophilic DESs for waste management applications.
• To optimize DES formulations and process parameters for efficient packaging delamination.

Main Methods:

• Preparation and characterization of various DESs using carboxylic acids and natural organic compounds.
• Testing DES efficacy on common packaging waste: Al/PE, PE/Al/PET, Al/PE/paper, and PVC/PE/Al.
• Utilizing Design of Experiments (DOE) to optimize temperature, agitation, mixing time, and solvent ratios.

Main Results:

• DESs demonstrated partial to full delamination of various multilayer packaging components.
• Optimized DES formulations showed promise for efficient material separation.
• Process parameters significantly influenced the delamination efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Deep Eutectic Solvents provide an efficient, low-energy, and affordable green option for delaminating laminate packaging.
• DESs facilitate the separation of packaging components, aiding in material recovery and recycling.
• Further research can refine DES systems for broader application in sustainable packaging waste management.