Recycled PET in Sustainable Packaging

The increasing accumulation of plastic waste, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), presents significant environmental challenges. This study explores the incorporation green mussel shell (GMS) as a bio-filler in recycled (rPET) composites to promote sustainability and circular economy practices. rPET/SA/GMS were fabricated using injection molding, with GMS compositions 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% fixed 1% stearic acid (SA) content coupling agent. effects on thermal, mechanical, rheological, morphology properties analyzed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), universal testing machine (UTM), melt flow index (MFI) testing, electron microscopy (SEM). results indicate that 10% exhibited highest melting temperature (249.5C) due enhanced interfacial interactions, despite decrease crystallinity. However, tensile strength decreased significantly at 5% (8.52 MPa) weak bonding, whereas (12.91 showed slight improvement better SA-assisted dispersion. Rheological analysis revealed rate (162.87 g/10 min) GMS, but higher concentrations reduced flowability increased CaCO filler agglomeration.... Read More

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Recycling method for polyester materials like PET that improves subsequent processability and quality compared to traditional methods. The method involves subdividing, washing, and microwave drying the polyester material to reduce moisture content. Then melt extruding with tangential filtration through rotating filters to remove impurities. This prevents clogging and allows effective filtration without pressure buildup. The tangential filtration angle prevents impurities getting stuck in filter holes. By controlling moisture and avoiding clogging, the recycled polyester has better properties like lower IV variation and impurity levels for downstream processes like spinning and molding.

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A method for producing a high purity intermediate product from recycled polyester flakes that can be used to make new polyesters. The method involves sorting and cleaning the flakes to remove impurities, followed by dissolving the flakes in a solvent to extract the polyester. The dissolved polyester is then filtered to remove any remaining impurities. The resulting filtered polyester solution is concentrated to produce the high purity intermediate product. This method allows recycling of post-consumer PET waste into a cleaner and more usable intermediate product for making new polyesters.

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The increasing concern over plastic waste management and the growing demand for sustainable manufacturing have driven innovative solutions such as recycling into 3D printing filament. This practical experiment focuses on design, development, performance analysis of a filament making setup that converts bottles (primarily PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate) usable Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) printers. In experimental setup, were collected, cleaned, dried, shredded fine flakes using shredder. These then fed extruder where controlled heating, melting, extrusion processes converted continuous strands. Key parameters temperature, nozzle diameter, cooling rate, pulling speed carefully optimized to produce consistent diameter (typically 1.75 mm 0.05 mm), ensuring compatibility with standard FDM produced was subsequently tested in an printer evaluate printability, mechanical properties, surface finish, dimensional accuracy printed parts. results demonstrated recycled showed satisfactory prototyping applications, good adhesion, minimal warping, acceptable strength noncritical components... Read More

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Efficiently recycling polyesters like PET by reusing components from depolymerization instead of purifying monomers. The method involves depolymerizing PET waste to extract a regenerated diacid and catalyst. This mixture is then reacted with a diol to form ester compounds. Additional catalyst can be added. The ester compounds are polymerized to regenerate the PET. By reusing the depolymerization components, it avoids the need to purify monomers and allows more efficient recycling of PET.

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Plastics are essential to modern society, but their low recycling rates and inefficient endoflife management pose a significant environmental challenge. Here, we present an efficient strategy for upcycling postconsumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste into robust, closedloop recyclable vitrimer plastics composites address this issue. Our catalystfree aminolysis utilizes readily available amines deconstruct diverse PET wastes macromonomers which upcycled plastics, exhibiting superior mechanical properties exceeding the ultimate tensile stress Youngs Modulus of virgin by 80% 150% respectively. These vitrimers exhibit excellent healability, shape memory, thermal reprocessability, chemical recyclability, enabling quantitative macromonomer recovery even from mixed plastic streams glass/carbon fiber reinforced composites. Furthermore, resin yields robust GFRV CFRV with strengths those traditional epoxy 100% 80%, respectively, while maintaining complete recyclability both constituent materials. A preliminary technoeconomic analysis confirms costeffectiveness ... Read More

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This study investigates the mechanical strength and thermal resistance of fibre produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles in comparison to commercial fibre. The objective is assess potential PET as a sustainable material under stress. Recycled fibres were fabricated using modified cotton candy machine. Beeswax treatment was applied at 60C, 40C, room temperature evaluate its influence on tensile strength. Observations stretchability, brittleness, wax adsorption recorded compare performance both types. Thermal testing involved immersing silicone oil subjecting them progressive heating 30C, 80C. Results showed that retained superior flexibility across all beeswax treatments, while became brittle limited stretchability. However, exhibited greater stability, withstanding higher temperatures before showing signs burning, whereas melted These findings suggest although has lower resilience, it performs better high temperatures. makes promising candidate for applications requiring heat resistance, such insulation or packaging. limitations remain may necessitate f... Read More

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Efficient, low energy, high yielding process for transforming polyester like PET into DMT or other terephthalate esters. The process involves reacting the polyester with a mixture of glycoxide and an alcohol like methanol. This converts the polyester into terephthalate esters like DMT without using strong acids or high temperatures. The glycoxide catalyst allows selective esterification of the polyester chain ends. The alcohol swells the polyester and facilitates the reaction. The glycoxide can be prepared by suspending monosodium glycoxide in methanol. The process enables sustainable, cost-effective production of terephthalate esters from PET recycling.

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Preparing recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) compositions with improved properties compared to traditional recycled PET. The compositions contain a specific range of deposit post-consumer PET, from 25% to 100% by weight, blended to homogeneity before mixing with virgin PET. This process step of homogenizing the deposit PET prevents issues like color streaking and fiber breakage in final products. The blended deposit PET and virgin PET are then extruded together to create recycled PET compositions.

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The increasing accumulation of plastic waste-especially from packaging and post-consumer sources-calls for the development sustainable recycling strategies. Due to challenges associated with sorting mixed waste, directly processing waste streams offers a practical approach. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are common consumer plastics, but they difficult recycle together due immiscibility degradation. In recycled HDPE (r-HDPE) often contaminates PET (r-PET) stream. Additive manufacturing (AM) promising solution upcycle these polymers into functional products minimal waste. This study investigates characterization r-PET/r-HDPE blends AM, focusing on role compatibilizers in enhancing their properties. Blends were melt-compounded using twin-screw extruder improve dispersion, followed by direct pellet-based 3D printing. A compatibilizer (0-7 php) was incorporated miscibility. Rheological testing showed that 5 php optimized viscosity elasticity, ensuring smoother extrusion. Thermal analysis revealed 30 C increase crystallization temperature shift decompo... Read More

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The factual circularity of materials needs utilization that keep their quality properties after going through recycling to minimize the inflow virgin in technosphere. Within PEF methodology, and based on economic model approach, European Commission provides default parameters for changes polymers recycling, but solely some fossil-based polymers. This study a test-based example calculation technical substitutability 2 (HDPE PET) bio-based (PLA PHB) mechanical, processing, optical properties. results show method gives very different compared those obtained by considering real multiple-cycle recycling. HDPE proved have superior circular any other polymer under research. In addition, recent practice substituting with will need be re-evaluated additional research related change showed important limitations strong harmonized testing degradation all types

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Waste plastics represent a new resource for the chemical industry. In this study, we demonstrate solventswitching strategy to upcycle waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into monomer terephthalic acid (TPA) and key bulk feedstocks biodegradable polymers, such as lactic (LA), or glycolic (GA). PET undergoes rapid mild depolymerization its monomers TPA ethylene glycol (EG) under catalysis of manganese complex. When methanol (MeOH) is used solvent, it selective dehydrogenative coupling with insitu generated EG, efficiently yielding LA yields exceeding 98%. By replacing MeOH tertamyl alcohol (tAmOH), quantitatively converted GA. The conversion mechanism was elucidated through deuteriumlabeling experiments molecular model studies. This work presents sustainable innovative approach upcycling highvalue products, while open route synthesize biopolymer monomers, which are essential developing chemically recyclable thereby advancing production singleuse polymer products.

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To tackle growing resource and environmental challenges, closed-loop chemical recycling of waste PET is gaining significant attention. Methanolysis demonstrates industrial potential due to the ease separation purification its depolymerization product, dimethyl terephthalate (DMT). However, conventional methanolysis processes for typically require harsh conditions (>200 C 24 MPa), highlighting need more efficient milder methods. In this work, leveraging Hansens solubility parameter theory, a bio-based solvent gamma-valerolactone (GVL) was introduced construct binary mixed system, enabling highly PET. Through systematic optimization reaction conditions, an in-depth analysis effects various factors on efficiency kinetics conducted. The incorporation GVL markedly enhanced compatibility between PET, thereby significantly improving while effectively lowering temperature pressure. Complete can be achieved within 2 h at 150 under pressure 0.9 MPa, with DMT yield up 97.8%. This GVL/methanol system exhibits higher efficiency, substantial advantages in terms impact energy consumption... Read More

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Abstract Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) products are major contributors to plastic waste, and recycling helps mitigate the problem. This study explored how onestep melt compounding of flakes postconsumer PET bottles with an epoxytype chain extender (CE) glass fiber (GF) would impact properties resulting composite (rPET/GF/CE). Remarkably, elongation at break strength rPET/GF/CE nearly matched those PET/GF, its yield stress exceeded that PET/GF by approximately 15%. GF CE synergically improved complex viscosity rPET (400fold increase for vs. 2 3fold increases PET/CE rPET/GF, respectively.) The highly pronounced shear thinning was primary marker extensive longchain branching (LCB). LCB also altered thermal main factor responsible enhancements in mechanical rheological properties. promotion is likely due diffusion amine groups from surface sized fibers into matrix, where they act as catalysts extension reaction, giving rise LCB. demonstrates waste can be recycled used highperformance applications, example, automotive industry. Highlights Mechanical performanc... Read More

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Device and method for recycling post-consumer plastic waste to produce odorless and contaminant-free pellets for reuse in packaging applications. The process involves shredding, washing, melting, degassing, and granulating the plastic waste. Ozone is added to the melt to oxidize and remove odorants. The ozone concentration is monitored and adjusted to prevent excess ozone emissions. This targeted ozone treatment removes odor-causing compounds from the recycled plastic.

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Crystalline and easily recyclable heat shrinkable polyester film that can be recycled with PET bottles without needing separate sorting. The film has a three-layer structure with a core layer containing a nucleating agent, chain extender, and foaming agent. The nucleating agent accelerates crystallization, the chain extender crosslinks PETG, and the foaming agent expands pores that shrink after heating. This improves film melting point and crystallinity to match PET, prevents sticking and bridging during recycling, and reduces density for higher yield. The film has a surface layer with functional masterbatch to improve printability.

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A process to depolymerize waste polyester plastics like PET into their building blocks using aqueous metal salts at moderate temperatures. The depolymerized monomers and oligomers can then be polymerized again to produce new, high quality, renewable polyesters. The process uses metal salts like zinc bromide or iodide at 100-250°C to depolymerize the waste plastic. The metal salts catalyze the breakage of ester bonds in the polymer chain. The depolymerized monomers and oligomers are then polymerized using conventional techniques to make new polyesters. This allows recycling of waste plastics into like-quality new plastics without losing properties or requiring high temperatures.

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Enhanced PET hydrolyzing enzyme for recycling plastic waste. The enzyme, called IsPETase-8×Chimera, is a modified version of the naturally occurring PET hydrolyzing enzyme IsPETase. The modifications involve replacing specific amino acid sequences in IsPETase to create a variant with improved activity and thermal stability. The IsPETase-8×Chimera enzyme can hydrolyze PET at higher temperatures than native IsPETase, making it more practical for recycling applications where high temperatures are used to process the plastics.

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Extruder for viscosity-increasing processing of meltable polymers, such as recycled PET, that enables efficient degassing and molecular chain extension under high vacuum conditions. The extruder has multiple satellite screws rotating around the main screw at a higher speed to create turbulent flow and loosen the melt. The main screw has varying diameter core in the degassing zones, with a shallower flight upstream and a deeper flight downstream. This abrupt expansion at the core step ruptures the melt stream and increases surface area for volatile extraction. The larger free volume upstream allows sudden melt expansion. The geometry facilitates degassing and chain extension without requiring extreme vacuum levels.

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Purpose This research proposes the application of computational techniques to design a novel biocomposite from material two wastes: recycled PET and Colombian biomass. Design/methodology/approach To select biomass, review crops with higher production environmental impact was done. Subsequently, carried out by homogenization software using first-order Mori-Tanaka method. During design, matrix , different morphologies were proposed for natural fiber reinforcements, taking into account nature biomass: fibers, particles granules. The reinforced continuous pineapple peel fibers presented best characteristics due morphology reinforcement mainly. Findings results designing biomass/PET biomaterials, variations based on biomass types methods. Longitudinal stiffness (E1) significantly increases in PET/pineapple composites compared other attributed tensile strength stress distribution leaf fibers. After enzymatic degumming, show cellulose content crystallinity, enhancing stiffness. In contrast, PET/cocoa PET/avocado exhibit lower stiffness, suitable flexible applications. method shows improves ... Read More

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