Separating laminated plastic packaging films using solvent dissolution

在英国，夹层塑料包装正以每年约14%的速度增长，但这些材料不能回收，因为它们是物理粘合的，不容易分离。它们主要由PET(层压膜的主体)和另一种聚合物组成，通常是PP或PE，用作食品接触和盖子密封的非常薄的衬里薄膜。一个包装通常可能含有2%至10%的PP/PE。聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯用于生产各种产品，对回收聚酯的需求也在不断增长。回收层压聚酯以避免垃圾填埋或焚烧费用的需求将会越来越大。主要的挑战是分离这些物理结合的聚合物。我们的想法是使用溶剂溶解较小部分的PE/PP，通过使用超声波技术大大加速留下干净、固体的PET。我们的目标是加工聚酯，并将技术许可给其他聚酯回收商。我们可能会授权一家PET回收系统制造商建造工厂并出售许可证，从而在英国和欧盟实现广泛的开发。

Laminated plastics packaging is growing at ~14%p.a in the UK, but these materials cannot be recycled as they are physically bonded and cannot be readily separated. They mostly consist of PET (the bulk of the laminated film) and one other polymer, usually PP or PE that is used as a very thin lining film for food contact and for lid sealing. A package may typically contain 2 to 10% PP/PE. PET is used to produce a wide range of products and demand for recovered PET is growing. There will be an increasing need to recover laminated PET to avoid landfill or incineration charges. The main challenge is to separate these physically bonded polymers. Our idea is to use solvent dissolution of the smaller fraction PE/PP greatly accelerated by use of ultrasound technology to leave clean, solid PET. We aim to process PET & license the technology to other PET recyclers. We may license a PET recycling systems manufacturer to build plants and sell licenses, enabling broad exploitation in the UK & EU.