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Applications and Future of Recycling and Recycled Plastics

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Recent Developments in Plastic Recycling

Part of the book series: Composites Science and Technology ((CST))

Abstract

The plastic recycling sector in its transition to the Circular Economy model is facing numerous challenges such as multilayer films recovering, flexible plastics, low-quality recyclates, consumers safety, and bioplastics, among others. The demand for high quality recycled products is expected to increase due to social pressure and new legislation, especially in the EU. Nevertheless, conventional recycling processes are not able to meet the quality requirements of more demanding applications intended to become in direct contact with the consumer. Therefore, new recycling technologies must be implemented to ensure the recovery of more challenging materials (for instance, multilayer films) and to maintain the quality of recycled products at a high level. Some innovative technologies that are being developed are delamination of multilayer films in a water-based solution, removal of undesired odours by steam stripping, and removal of less volatile contaminants using a water-soluble heavy solvent. High quality recycled pellets will be used in high added value applications usually in direct contact with the consumer such as cosmetics packaging, personal care products packaging, toys, kitchenware, car interior parts, etc. In this way, the highest environmental benefits will be produced, and the plastics sector will be more circular.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road, s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain

    Horodytska Oksana, Cabanes Andrea, Domene-López Daniel & Fullana Andrés

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  1. Horodytska Oksana
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  2. Cabanes Andrea
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  3. Domene-López Daniel
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  4. Fullana Andrés
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Correspondence to Horodytska Oksana .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mar Athanasios College For Advanced Studies Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India

    Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai

  2. King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand

    Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa

  3. Presidency University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Arpitha Gulihonnehalli Rajkumar

  4. King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand

    Suchart Siengchin

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Oksana, H., Andrea, C., Daniel, DL., Andrés, F. (2021). Applications and Future of Recycling and Recycled Plastics. In: Parameswaranpillai, J., Mavinkere Rangappa, S., Gulihonnehalli Rajkumar, A., Siengchin, S. (eds) Recent Developments in Plastic Recycling. Composites Science and Technology . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3627-1_15

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