1
|
Geier J, Bredács M, Witschnigg A, Vollprecht D, Oreski G. Analysis of different polypropylene waste bales: Evaluation of the source material for PP recycling. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2024; 42:767-775. [PMID: 38318839 PMCID: PMC11373154 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x241227369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The use of the polypropylene (PP) recyclates in certain processing methods and applications is still limited by their quality. The high melt flow rate (MFR) and the inconsistent properties of recyclates are common obstacles to their use. Therefore, this work aims to identify possible reasons for the low and inconsistent quality of PP recyclates depending on the source material in PP waste bales. The levels of polymeric and non-polymeric contaminants were assessed. As mixing of different PP grades is an issue for the MFR, the proportions of the different processing grades were also investigated and the potential of sorting by processing method to produce lower MFR recyclates was assessed. The analysis showed that the waste bales, although pre-sorted, still contained high amounts of contaminants. Injection moulding was found to be the predominant processing method in the bales, explaining the high MFR of PP recyclates. However, a sufficiently high amount of low MFR products was found in the bales, which seems promising for the production of low MFR recyclates. Seasonal variations in the composition of the waste bales were identified as one of the reasons for the inconsistent qualities of recyclates. These results highlight the importance of proper sorting and treatment of PP waste bales prior to reprocessing in order to obtain high-quality recycled products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Geier
- Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH, Leoben, Austria
- Chair of Materials Science and Testing of Polymers, University of Leoben, Leoben, Austria
| | | | | | - Daniel Vollprecht
- Chair of Resource and Chemical Engineering, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Gernot Oreski
- Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH, Leoben, Austria
- Chair of Materials Science and Testing of Polymers, University of Leoben, Leoben, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin TW, Padilla-Vélez O, Kaewdeewong P, LaPointe AM, Coates GW, Eagan JM. Advances in Nonreactive Polymer Compatibilizers for Commodity Polyolefin Blends. Chem Rev 2024; 124:9609-9632. [PMID: 39052522 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Recycling mixed polyolefin plastics is a significant challenge due to the limitations in sorting and degraded mechanical properties of blends. Nonreactive compatibilization by adding a small amount of polymeric additive is a widespread approach to restoring the performance and value of recycled plastics. Over the past several decades, synthetic advances have enabled access to low-cost copolymers and precision architectures for deepening the understanding of compatibilization mechanisms in semicrystalline polyolefins. This review covers the design parameters of a polymeric compatibilizer, the testing of blends, the synthetic methods of producing economically viable additives, and surveys the literature of blends of compatibilized HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, and iPP. From this, readers should gain a comprehension of the polymer mechanics, synthesis, and macromolecular engineering of processable polyolefin blends, along with the field's future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Wei Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Omar Padilla-Vélez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Parin Kaewdeewong
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The Goodyear Polymer Science Building, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - Anne M LaPointe
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - Geoffrey W Coates
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-1301, United States
| | - James M Eagan
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The Goodyear Polymer Science Building, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Darweesh MH, Stoll B, El‐Taweel SH. Compatibilization of polypropylene/high‐density polyethylene blends using poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene). J Appl Polym Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/app.53687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed H. Darweesh
- Engineering and Materials Science Department German University in Cairo New Cairo City Egypt
| | - Bernhard Stoll
- Abteilung Angewandte Physik University of Ulm Ulm Germany
| | - Safaa H. El‐Taweel
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science Cairo University Orman‐Giza Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Coba-Daza S, Carmeli E, Otaegi I, Aranburu N, Guerrica-Echevarria G, Kahlen S, Cavallo D, Tranchida D, Müller AJ. Effect of compatibilizer addition on the surface nucleation of dispersed polyethylene droplets in a self-nucleated polypropylene matrix. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.125511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
5
|
Pfaendner R. Restabilization – 30 years of research for quality improvement of recycled plastics review. Polym Degrad Stab 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2022.110082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
6
|
Wolff P, Dickert A, Kretschmer WP, Kempe R. iPP/PE Multiblock Copolymers for Plastic Blend Recycling Synthesized by Coordinative Chain Transfer Polymerization. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Wolff
- Lehrstuhl Anorganische Chemie II─Katalysatordesign, Sustainable Chemistry Centre, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
| | - André Dickert
- Lehrstuhl Anorganische Chemie II─Katalysatordesign, Sustainable Chemistry Centre, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
| | - Winfried P. Kretschmer
- Lehrstuhl Anorganische Chemie II─Katalysatordesign, Sustainable Chemistry Centre, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
| | - Rhett Kempe
- Lehrstuhl Anorganische Chemie II─Katalysatordesign, Sustainable Chemistry Centre, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Conversion of Plastic Waste into Supports for Nanostructured Heterogeneous Catalysts: Application in Environmental Remediation. SURFACES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/surfaces5010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are ubiquitous in our society and are used in many industries, such as packaging, electronics, the automotive industry, and medical and health sectors, and plastic waste is among the types of waste of higher environmental concern. The increase in the amount of plastic waste produced daily has increased environmental problems, such as pollution by micro-plastics, contamination of the food chain, biodiversity degradation and economic losses. The selective and efficient conversion of plastic waste for applications in environmental remediation, such as by obtaining composites, is a strategy of the scientific community for the recovery of plastic waste. The development of polymeric supports for efficient, sustainable, and low-cost heterogeneous catalysts for the treatment of organic/inorganic contaminants is highly desirable yet still a great challenge; this will be the main focus of this work. Common commercial polymers, like polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene therephthalate, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, are addressed herein, as are their main physicochemical properties, such as molecular mass, degree of crystallinity and others. Additionally, we discuss the environmental and health risks of plastic debris and the main recycling technologies as well as their issues and environmental impact. The use of nanomaterials raises concerns about toxicity and reinforces the need to apply supports; this means that the recycling of plastics in this way may tackle two issues. Finally, we dissert about the advances in turning plastic waste into support for nanocatalysts for environmental remediation, mainly metal and metal oxide nanoparticles.
Collapse
|
8
|
Mehrabi‐Mazidi M, Sharifi H. Post‐consumer recycled high density polyethylene/polypropylene blend with improved overall performance through modification by impact polypropylene copolymer: morphology, properties and fracture resistance. POLYM INT 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pi.6268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Majid Mehrabi‐Mazidi
- Advanced Polymeric Materials Department PlusPolymer (Vara Polymer Pishro) Company Ltd Tehran Iran
| | - Hossein Sharifi
- Advanced Polymeric Materials Department PlusPolymer (Vara Polymer Pishro) Company Ltd Tehran Iran
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering Sharif University of Technology Tehran Iran
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Multi-Micro/Nanolayer Films Based on Polyolefins: New Approaches from Eco-Design to Recycling. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13030413. [PMID: 33525413 PMCID: PMC7865727 DOI: 10.3390/polym13030413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper describes a future-oriented approach for the valorization of polyethylene-based multilayer films. The method involves going from eco-design to mechanical recycling of multilayer films via forced assembly coextrusion. The originality of this study consists in limiting the number of constituents, reducing/controlling the thickness of the layers and avoiding the use of tie layers. The ultimate goal is to improve the manufacturing of new products from recycled multilayer materials by simplifying their recyclability. Within this framework, new structures were developed with two polymer systems: polyethylene/polypropylene and polyethylene/polystyrene, with nominal micro- and nanometric thicknesses. Hitherto, the effect of the multi-micro/nanolayer architecture as well as initial morphological and mechanical properties was evaluated. Several recycling processes were investigated, including steps such as: (i) grinding; (ii) monolayer cast film extrusion; or (iii) injection molding with or without an intermediate blending step by twin-screw extrusion. Subsequently, the induced morphological and mechanical properties were investigated depending on the recycling systems and the relationships between the chosen recycling processes or strategies, and structure and property control of the recycled systems was established accordingly. Based on the results obtained, a proof of concept was demonstrated with the eco-design of multi-micro/nanolayer films as a very promising solution for the industrial issues that arise with the valorization of recycled materials.
Collapse
|
10
|
Karaagac E, Koch T, Archodoulaki VM. The effect of PP contamination in recycled high-density polyethylene (rPE-HD) from post-consumer bottle waste and their compatibilization with olefin block copolymer (OBC). WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 119:285-294. [PMID: 33125937 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) are widely used commodity plastics in packaging industry such as detergent bottles. To produce plastic detergent bottles, very often extrusion blown molded PE-HD as a body and injection molded PP as a screw cap are used. Separation of individual polymer type is difficult due to the similar density. Unfortunately, the melt blending of recycled post-consumer detergent bottle waste leads to deterioration of mechanical properties. Additionally, the percentage of rPP contamination in recycled PE-HD (rPE-HD) from post-consumer bottle waste can be varied depending on local waste composition and different sorting quality. This work investigates the effect of various contamination scenarios with different percentage of rPP from bottle caps in rPE-HD from bottle waste as well as their compatibilization with olefin block copolymer (OBC) on mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties. Moreover, the low temperature tensile properties of blends with OBC are also investigated in this study. The results showed that the increasing rPP contamination leads to deteriorating elongation at break and tensile impact strength. Furthermore, the addition of OBC as a compatibilizer into worse-case contamination scenario (15 wt% rPP in rPE-HD) significantly improved elongation at break and tensile impact strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms the improvement in adhesion between rPP and rPE-HD from recycled bottle waste with the addition of OBC as a compatibilizer. Rheological measurements reveal the interfacial interaction among rPP, rPE-HD and OBC. The low temperature tensile test demonstrated that the addition of OBC as a compatibilizer improved low temperature tensile elongation at break.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erdal Karaagac
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, Vienna A-1060, Austria.
| | - Thomas Koch
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, Vienna A-1060, Austria
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Effect of Olefin-based Compatibilizers on the Formation of Cocontinuous Structure in Immiscible HDPE/iPP Blends. CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10118-020-2433-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|