Status
Completed
Material Class
Polymers
specific materials
Polyethylene (PE)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polystyrene (PS)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
18-01-RR-20

Scalable High Shear Catalyzed Depolymerizations of Multilayer Plastic Packaging

NODE
Technical Thrust
Recycling & Recovery
Mechanical Recycling Technologies for Sorting, Separating, & Liberating Materials
project Members
Michigan state university logo
UMASS lowell logo
NREL national renewable energy laboratory logo
Unilever Global
About

Industry is increasingly combining layers of different polymer materials to construct highly functional, lightweight packaging (e.g. to extend food life). These multilayer films are unfortunately less recyclable than single layer films. This project will investigate catalytic depolymerization as a cost-effective approach to process these films into higher value products suitable for use in a variety of applications.

PUBLICATIONS

June 11, 2019
High Speed Reactive Extrusion for Compatibilizing Polymer Blends: Advanced Processing for a Circular Economy
Conference Presentation

"High speed reactive extrusion for compatibilizing polymer blends: Advanced processing for a circular economy” presented by Margaret Sobkowicz Kline (University of Massachusetts Lowell) at the 2019 ACS Green Chemistry and Engineering conference June 11, 2019 in Reston, VA.

Pub. Info: 2019 ACS Green Chemistry and Engineering conference June 11, 2019
September 3, 2021
Hybrid Chemo‐Mechanical Plastics Recycling: Solvent‐free, High‐speed Reactive Extrusion of Low‐Density Polyethylene
Journal Article

Martey, S.; Addison, B.; Wilson, A. N.; Tan, B.; Yu, J.; Dorgan, J. R.; Sobkowicz, M. J. Hybrid Chemo‐Mechanical Plastics Recycling: Solvent‐free, High‐speed Reactive Extrusion of Low‐Density Polyethylene. ChemSusChem 2021, cssc.202100968.

Pub. Info: ChemSusChem 2021 cssc.202100968
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202100968

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