Chemical recycling of plastic wastes made from polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE) and polypropylene (PP).
The recycling of either model polymers or waste products based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP) is examined using the dissolution/reprecipitation method, as well as pyrolysis. In the first technique, different solvents/non-solvents were examined at different weight percent amounts and temperatures using as raw material both model polymers and commercial products (packaging film, bags, pipes, food-retail outlets). The recovery of polymer in every case was greater than 90%. FT-IR spectra and tensile mechanical properties of the samples before and after recycling were measured. Furthermore, catalytic pyrolysis was carried out in a laboratory fixed bed reactor with an FCC catalyst using again model polymers and waste products as raw materials. Analysis of the derived gases and oils showed that pyrolysis gave a mainly aliphatic composition consisting of a series of hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes), with a great potential to be recycled back into the petrochemical industry as a feedstock for the production of new plastics or refined fuels.
Laboratory of Organic Chemical Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece. axilias@chem.auth.gr
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Achilias
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Roupakias
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Lappas
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Antonakou
D002384:Catalysis; D002621:Chemistry / Q000379:methods; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D018857:Food Packaging; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014866:Waste Products
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011108:Polymers; D014866:Waste Products