Re-Processing of Multilayer Plastic Materials as a Part of the Recycling Process: The Features of Processed Multilayer Materials

Ville Lahtela; Shekhar Silwal; Timo Kärki

doi:10.3390/polym12112517

Re-Processing of Multilayer Plastic Materials as a Part of the Recycling Process: The Features of Processed Multilayer Materials

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12112517 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 2517

Author(s):

Ville Lahtela ◽

Shekhar Silwal ◽

Timo Kärki

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Characteristics ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Packaging Materials ◽

Recycling Process ◽

Melt Flow Rate ◽

Plastic Packaging ◽

Food Packages ◽

Plastic Materials ◽

Materials Used ◽

Reuse Options

The weight of packaging materials will be increased with advanced innovations, such as multilayer plastic. The consequence of the advanced innovations is challenges in the following reuse activities. This study aimed to investigate the properties of multilayer plastic materials after recycling processes and will increase the awareness of plastic packaging material for reuse options. In this research, the materials were produced from food packages by crushing them and treating them with injection molding equipment. The implementation of materials in the processing was tested, and the structural and mechanical characteristics of the produced plastic materials was evaluated and discussed. Based on the completed tests, plastic materials used in food packages have the clearest differences in the material features, for instance, the melt flow rate and elongation rate in the tensile test that varied between 2.96–48.4 g/10min and 2–289%, respectively. The variation in the characterizations ranged widely between the material structures. The results indicate that solid plastic packaging materials have better mechanical features compared to foil materials. The structural analysis of materials showed that multilayer plastic includes a wide spectrum of different elements within materials, creating a challenge for future recycling.

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Evaluation of plastic packaging materials used in radiation sterilized medical products and food

Radiation Physics and Chemistry ◽

10.1016/s0969-806x(99)00474-0 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 57 (3-6) ◽

pp. 435-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Li Fengmei ◽

Wang Ying ◽

Liu Xiaoguang ◽

Yang Baoyu

Keyword(s):

Packaging Materials ◽

Plastic Packaging ◽

Medical Products ◽

Materials Used

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Recent Advancements in Plastic Packaging Recycling: A Mini-Review

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14174782 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (17) ◽

pp. 4782

Author(s):

Valentina Beghetto ◽

Roberto Sole ◽

Chiara Buranello ◽

Marco Al-Abkal ◽

Manuela Facchin

Keyword(s):

Polyethylene Terephthalate ◽

Scientific Community ◽

Future Generations ◽

Environmental Concerns ◽

Packaging Materials ◽

Plastic Packaging ◽

Plastic Recycling ◽

Plastic Materials ◽

Mechanical Methods

Today, the scientific community is facing crucial challenges in delivering a healthier world for future generations. Among these, the quest for circular and sustainable approaches for plastic recycling is one of the most demanding for several reasons. Indeed, the massive use of plastic materials over the last century has generated large amounts of long-lasting waste, which, for much time, has not been object of adequate recovery and disposal politics. Most of this waste is generated by packaging materials. Nevertheless, in the last decade, a new trend imposed by environmental concerns brought this topic under the magnifying glass, as testified by the increasing number of related publications. Several methods have been proposed for the recycling of polymeric plastic materials based on chemical or mechanical methods. A panorama of the most promising studies related to the recycling of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) is given within this review.

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Agrochemical plastic packaging waste decontamination for recycling: Pilot tests in Italy

Journal of Agricultural Engineering ◽

10.4081/jae.2019.958 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 99-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Caterina Picuno ◽

Zoe Godosi ◽

Kerstin Kuchta ◽

Pietro Picuno

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Experimental Tests ◽

Specific Reference ◽

Agricultural Activities ◽

Recycling Process ◽

Plastic Packaging ◽

Modern Agriculture ◽

Plastic Materials ◽

Plastic Containers ◽

Pilot Tests

Agriculture, one of the main economic pillars in Europe, plays a growing important role towards the environmental sustainability of the extra-urban land, in which the agricultural activities may proactively contribute to control and regulate the whole ecological conditions. Modern agriculture currently needs big quantities of agrochemicals, which are necessary for the growth and protection of crops and animals. These agrochemicals are commercially distributed to consumers in many types of containers. The most widely used packaging solutions usually employ plastic materials (e.g., containers for liquid pesticide; sacks for granular fertiliser; etc.). These materials, after the use of the agrochemical, need to be decontaminated, before being entrained in a recycling process, in the framework of a circular economy. In the present paper the main results coming from a EU-funded international project are reported, with specific reference to a pilot station that was realised in Italy with the aim to implement and test a codified system for the decontamination of these plastic containers for agrochemicals. The experimental tests were supported by relevant laboratory analysis, which have confirmed that the triple-rinsing decontamination procedure - traditionally employed by farmers for washing and decontaminating these containers - may be effective only under some well-defined conditions. Triple rinsing by farmers has indeed led to an only partial decontamination of the plastic containers, if farmers did not follow an appropriate triple-rinsing protocol, or did not triple-rinse the containers immediately after their emptying.

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