Mechanical Recycling

Schmiemann, Achim; Amici, Marco De; Schröder, Thomas; Roost, Herman Van; Jahnke, Eike; Nießner, Norbert; Mangold, Hannah; Beyer, Caroline; Leadbitter, J.; Wilhelmus, Bianca

doi:10.3139/9781569908570.008

Cited by 4 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…Also, the concentrations of the toxic metals and metalloids correlate positively with the presence of a gray layer (which may indicate recycled PVC) and negatively with the number of layers (see Section S3.5 in the Supporting Information 1). , Cadmium and lead had been the major heat stabilizers before they were voluntarily phased out by the PVC industry in the EU (cadmium in 2000 and lead in 2015). Today, heat stabilization for PVC in the EU is achieved mainly using zinc–calcium, zinc–tin, and zinc–barium systems. , The observed elemental compositions provide supporting evidence for this industrial shift.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Product characteristics such as color, hardness, or “containing a gray layer” were manually assigned and, thus, depended on individual perception. The recycling content of products was not openly communicated, thus gray layers were used as an initial proxy, but with uncertainties as the color of recycled material may vary depending on the pretreatment (e.g., color separation) and posttreatment (e.g., coloration). , …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Information about the presence of recycled PVC in individual samples could not be obtained from the respective stores and retailers. Instead, the presence of a gray layer in a product was used as a nonconclusive proxy for recycled PVC, as color mixing and discoloration of insufficiently stabilized PVC at high temperature during recycling may cause a gray shade. , …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Schematic overview of the characteristics of the samples analyzed in this study and the analytical methods employed analytical methods. The presence of a gray layer may be an indication of the use of recycled PVC in the product. , PVC = polyvinyl chloride, DIY = “do-it-yourself”, ATR-FTIR = attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XRF = X-ray fluorescence, and GC–MS = gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Instead, the presence of a gray layer in a product was used as a nonconclusive proxy for recycled PVC, as color mixing and discoloration of insufficiently stabilized PVC at high temperature during recycling may cause a gray shade. 71 , 72 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings and Implications for Recycling

Wiesinger,

Bleuler,

Christen

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Hazardous chemicals in building and construction plastics can lead to health risks due to indoor exposure and may contaminate recycled materials. We systematically sampled new polyvinyl chloride floorings on the Swiss market (n = 151). We performed elemental analysis by X-ray fluorescence, targeted and suspect gas chromatography−mass spectrometry analysis of ortho-phthalates and alternative plasticizers, and bioassay tests for cytotoxicity and oxidative stress, and endocrine, mutagenic, and genotoxic activities (for selected samples). Surprisingly, 16% of the samples contained regulated chemicals above 0.1 wt %, mainly lead and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Their presence is likely related to the use of recycled PVC in new flooring, highlighting that uncontrolled recycling can delay the phase-out of hazardous chemicals. Besides DEHP, 29% of the samples contained other ortho-phthalates (mainly diisononyl and diisodecyl phthalates, DiNP and DiDP) above 0.1 wt %, and 17% of the samples indicated a potential to cause biological effects. Considering some overlap between these groups, they together make up an additional 35% of the samples of potential concern. Moreover, both suspect screening and bioassay results indicate the presence of additional potentially hazardous substances. Overall, our study highlights the urgent need to accelerate the phase-out of hazardous substances, increase the transparency of chemical compositions in plastics to protect human and ecosystem health, and enable the transition to a safe and sustainable circular economy.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings and Implications for Recycling

Wiesinger,

Bleuler,

Christen

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Blow molding of mechanically recycled post‐consumer rigid polyethylene packaging waste

Boz Noyan,

Boldizar

2024

Polymer Engineering & Sci

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Recycled post‐consumer rigid polyethylene (PE) packaging waste was washed and compounded on a pilot scale using different processing conditions and the processability of recycled materials with blow molding was assessed. Compared to virgin grade high‐density PE, the recycled materials showed a lower crystallinity, a lower thermo‐oxidative stability, a higher ash content, a lower viscosity and melt elasticity, and a lower melt strength and drawability. The thermo‐oxidative stability varied due to the different washing media. Rheological characterization by frequency‐sweep measurements indicated that the virgin grade PE had as expected more linear‐polymer‐like characteristics whereas the recycled materials showed chain branching or crosslinking related to the processing condition during compounding. The recycled materials were successfully blow molded into 4 L‐containers where they showed less resistance to flow than the virgin grade PE. The recycled materials differed in color when different washing media were used. There were no significant differences in the mechanical properties of the 4 L‐containers made of virgin grade and recycled PE.Highlights Washing, compounding, and blow molding of rigid polyethylene packaging waste were studied. The degradation varied depending on the washing and compounding conditions. Rheological results indicated chain branching or crosslinking due to degradation.

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Packaging Material Use Efficiency of Commercial PET and Glass Bottles for Mineral Water

Gress,

Müller,

Sängerlaub

2024

Beverages

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The influence of the bottle material (glass, PET), the reusability (reusable and disposable bottles), and the carbonization (still, medium, classic mineral water) on the filling ratio, packaging material use efficiency, cost, and shelf life were evaluated. Two hundred different bottles were purchased and characterized regarding their filling volume, the weight of the bottle, the weight of the closure, the weight of the label, and the maximum full-rim volume of the bottle. The packaging material use efficiency was calculated. The shelf life was evaluated by calculating the water vapor and carbon dioxide transmission rates. The ratio of filling volume to the packaging weight of disposable PET bottles was, on average, two times higher compared to returnable PET bottles and 20 times higher compared to glass bottles. Shelf life was, on average, higher than factor two for glass bottles compared to PET bottles. On average, but not in all cases, mineral water packaged in disposable PET bottles was cheaper compared to reusable PET and glass bottles. This paper provides a benchmark for the packaging community, especially when data for life cycle assessment are required, and the different advantages and disadvantages of different bottle materials for mineral water are shown.

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Mechanical Recycling

Cited by 4 publications

References 89 publications

Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings and Implications for Recycling

Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings and Implications for Recycling

Blow molding of mechanically recycled post‐consumer rigid polyethylene packaging waste

Packaging Material Use Efficiency of Commercial PET and Glass Bottles for Mineral Water

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