Recyclability of Post-Consumer Polystyrene at Pilot Scale: Comparison of Mechanical and Solvent-Based Recycling Approaches

Recyclability of Post-Consumer Polystyrene at Pilot Scale: Comparison of Mechanical and Solvent-Based Recycling Approaches

Solvent-based and mechanical recycling technology approaches were compared with respect to each process's decontamination efficiency. Herein, post-consumer polystyrene (PS) feedstock was recycled by both technologies, yielding recycled PS resins (rPS). The process feedstock was subjected to fou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers Vol. 15; no. 24; p. 4714
Main Authors: Pin, Jean-Mathieu, Soltani, Iman, Negrier, Keny, Lee, Patrick C
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 15-12-2023
MDPI
Subjects:
Canada
Chemical properties
Chromatography
Circular economy
Comparative analysis
Contaminants
Decontamination
Epoxy resins
Feedstock
Mechanical properties
mechanical recycling
Methods
Molecular weight
Organic compounds
Plastics
Polymers
Polystyrene
polystyrene recycling
Polystyrene resins
post-consumer feedstock
Qualitative analysis
Quality control
Quality standards
Raw materials
Recyclability
Recycling
Recycling (Waste, etc.)
Reprocessing
Resins
solvent-base recycling
Solvents
Sustainability
Technology assessment
Toxicity
Canada
mechanical recycling
decontamination
polystyrene recycling
post-consumer feedstock
solvent-base recycling
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Summary:Solvent-based and mechanical recycling technology approaches were compared with respect to each process's decontamination efficiency. Herein, post-consumer polystyrene (PS) feedstock was recycled by both technologies, yielding recycled PS resins (rPS). The process feedstock was subjected to four recycling cycles in succession to assess the technology perennity. The physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the rPS were then evaluated to discern the advantages and drawbacks of each recycling approach. The molecular weight of the mechanically recycled resin was found to decrease by 30% over the reprocessing cycles. In contrast, the solvent-base recycling technology yielded a similar molecular weight regarding the feedstock. This consistency in the rPS product is critical for consumer applications. Further qualitative and quantitative analyses on residual organic compounds and inorganic and particulate contaminants were investigated. It was found that the solvent-based technology is very efficient for purifying deeply contaminated feedstock in comparison to mechanical recycling, which is limited to well-cleaned and niche feedstocks.
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ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym15244714