NEW EUTECTIC SOLVENT SYSTEMS
A SOLVENT-BASED RECYCLING SOLUTION FOR PLASTIC AND METAL PACKAGING
Eutectic solvent systems
New eutectic solvent systems have been developed with unique properties. These solvent systems consist of one basic component and one or more components to form a eutectic solvent system. These eutectic systems have a lower melting temperature than the melting temperatures of the individual components.
The individual components are biodegradable or readily biodegradable, have a low vapour pressure and are non-toxic. As many different components can be used, these solvent systems are versatile, have a large window of operation, and may have different functionalities. A large variety of polymers including polyolefins and polyesters can be dissolved. Aluminium and steel cans can be de-coated at relatively low temperatures. These properties make these eutectic solvents ideal for solvent-based recycling of metal and plastic packaging materials.
The 4 Challenges of Recycling
Recycling of metal and plastic packaging material has four challenges:
– de-inking or de-coating of printed material
– delamination of laminated materials containing two or more layers of different materials (e.g. aluminium and PET)
– separation of polymers and dyes/additives
– decolouring of coloured plastics.
Each of these challenges can be addressed with our eutectic solvents.