Advancing Sustainable Practices in Food Packaging: Investigating Liquid State Decontamination of Post-Consumer High impact Polystyrene Recyclate
Sprache des Vortragstitels:
Englisch
Original Tagungtitel:
Polymer Processing Society 39
Sprache des Tagungstitel:
Englisch
Original Kurzfassung:
With an increased global focus on environmental sustainability, the imperative for innovative solutions in plastic waste management has never been more critical [1]. This urgency is particularly pronounced in the food packaging industry, where stringent requirements for material quality, both in terms of mechanical and toxicological properties, necessitate advanced recycling methodologies [2]. This study addresses this pressing challenge by examining various liquid state decontamination processes and their impacts on mechanical and thermo-rheological properties [3]. Utilizing post-consumer waste, specifically white polystyrene yogurt cups, this research investigates the potential of liquid state decontamination processes. The feedstock was processed through a super-cleaning industrial-scale recycling machine and a twin-screw extruder equipped with a vacuum degassing system with two vacuum ports. A comprehensive array of tests, including melt flow rate measurement, plate-plate rheometry, high-pressure capillary rheometry, tensile testing, and Charpy impact testing, were conducted to discern the nuanced influences of the distinct decontamination processes on the thermo-rheological and mechanical properties of polystyrene. The outcomes of this research provide a detailed portrayal of the currently attainable properties of polystyrene derived from post-consumer waste. This insight is pivotal in establishing the feasibility of utilizing PCR in the production of food packaging materials. The study contributes valuable knowledge to the ongoing discourse on sustainable practices in plastic waste management, offering a pathway towards more environmentally responsible and quality-compliant food packaging solutions.
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