Recycling of Mixed Poly(Ethylene-terephthalate) and Poly(Lactic Acid)

The selective recycling of mixed plastic waste of polylactic acid and polyethylene terephthalate by control of process conditions

The glycolysis of postconsumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste was evaluated with catalysts of zinc acetate, zinc stearate and zinc sulfate, showing that zinc acetate was the most soluble and effective. The chemical recycling by solvolysis of polylactic acid (PLA) and PET waste in either methanol or ethanol was investigated. Zinc acetate as a catalyst was found to be necessary to yield a...

Effects of Biomass in Polyethylene or Polylactic Acid Composites

There is need for bioplastics to replace some of the total petroleum plastics used in the world, and help alleviate environmental pollution. Compounding bioplastics with Polyethylene (PE) or Polylactic acid (PLA) containing a dairy-based bioplastic resulted in composites with good mechanical properties. In this study, mass ratios of a dairy-protein-based material (DBP) ranging from 0, 5, 10 and...

Performance evaluation of cutting fluids additives developed from recycling of polyethylene terephthalate

Metalworking-fluids (MWFs) perform essential functions to metal-products manufacturing industry. MWFs also have inherent environmental and health liabilities associated to industry. These liabilities viewed as opportunity to reevaluate the functionality of MWFs and improve profitability of operations. Several problems appeared in using of MWFs including biodegradation of constituents. The objec...

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Film Recycling

Biocatalysis as a green route for recycling the recalcitrant plastic polyethylene terephthalate

Biocatalysis can enable a closed-loop recycling of post-consumer PET waste.