New Technology Converts Mixed Plastic Waste into Oil for Plastic Manufacturing

A group of DTU researchers have therefore investigated new possibilities for recycling the plastic waste in collaboration with Roskilde University and a number of industry partners. Their research project RePlastic has shown that a valuable oil can be produced from otherwise useless plastic waste through pyrolysis.

Assessed the Potential of Several Plastic Materials in the Waste:

“I’m surprised at the great potential of pyrolysis technology for the most impure and mixed plastic fractions. This process can handle the plastic we have no other uses for. This enables us to bring end-of-life plastic back into the cycle and make it useful again,” says Anders Egede Daugaard, associate professor at DTU Chemical Engineering and head of the RePlastic project.

To fully understand Anders Egede Daugaard’s enthusiasm, you need to understand the challenges of recycling and sorting plastic waste into different categories and fractions. The current number of different plastic types with different properties is incredibly high—just take a look at your own plastic waste, where you will find hard, soft, ductile, colored, and transparent plastics.

Plastic waste is generally divided into two categories: industrial and household. Industrial plastic waste is usually more uniform as it often consists of only one type of plastic, where both the additives and manufacturing process are known. Household waste, on the other hand, is more often a mixture of different types and grades of plastic. The plastic is then sorted into different fractions depending on properties and quality.

Because the chemical additives vary according to the properties of each plastic product, the plastic waste needs to be sorted before it can be recycled in a mechanical process that granulates, heats, and remolds it into new plastic products. You cannot make new quality plastic from mixed plastic types because the melting point and additives differ and are often completely unknown.

In the RePlastic project, associate professor at DTU Anders Egede Daugaard and his team have assessed the potential of several plastic materials from the least valuable plastic fractions in the #plasticwaste. These fractions are where the majority of the household plastic waste ends up, along with industrial plastic waste that has already been recycled six or seven times and is therefore too worn out to be mechanically recycled again.

#Pyrolysis can Handle the Impurities in the Mixed and Dirty Plastic Waste:

The RePlastic project focused on using pyrolysis for chemical recycling. During the process, plastic waste is heated to high temperatures in a nitrogen-filled furnace, triggering a splitting of the chemical components of the plastic materials. Because there is no oxygen in the furnace, the plastic does not burn, but gasification occurs.

Source: Technical University of Denmark/specialchem

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: Chinese start-up unveils world's first gaseous-hydrogen truck with 1,000km range

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Chinese start-up unveils world's first gaseous-hydrogen truck with 1,000km range

Guangzhou-based Hybot says its fuel cell is 20% more efficient than rivals’ tech, requiring 8kg of H2 per 100km

Guangzhou-based Hybot says its H49 vehicle will only require 8kg of #H2 per 100km when travelling at high speed with a full cargo load of 49 tonnes — partly due its low weight of less than nine tonnes, and partly due to a fuel cell that it claims is 20% more efficient than rivals’ technology.

Hydrogen fuel-cell trucks normally have a fuel consumption of 9-9.2kg per 100km — 12.5-15% higher than the H49 — according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.

Germany’s Daimler has also unveiled a truck that can travel further than 1,000km on a single tank, but that runs on cryogenic liquid hydrogen — which contains 50% more energy by volume than gaseous hydrogen at 700 bar, and is not dispensed at any public H2 filling station.

The H49 also has a secondary use for its fuel cell — the hot water generated as a by-product of electricity production is used in the shower room and sink at the back of the driver’s cab, a useful addition for long-distance journeys.

The vehicle is also equipped with “high-speed autonomous driving”, including automatic lane changing; the ability for problems to be diagnosed remotely; and software updates via the cloud — leading to comparisons with Tesla in the Chinese media.

“This disruptive innovative design makes the Hybot H49 more competitive and opens a new chapter in #hydrogenfuelcell heavy-duty trucks,” said CEO Sun Ying at the product launch, at the Guangzhou Airport Expo Centre.

“H49 is expected to be delivered in small batches in the second half of 2024, and will be officially launched into mass production in 2025.”

#Hybot was jointly founded in December 2021 by Chinese investor Beijing Huaxia Shunze, conglomerate #GuangdongGuangwuHoldingGroup and a hydrogen fund affiliated with the Beijing Tsinghua Industrial Development Research Institute.

Source:Hydrogen Insight

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Otto Wallach-Nobel prize 1910

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Otto Wallach-Nobel prize 1910

In 1910 Otto Wallach (1847 to 1931) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his achievements in the fields of organic chemistry and the chemical industry for his pioneering work in the area of alicyclic compounds. Following studies in chemistry and natural sciences at the University of Göttingen he completed his Doctorate in 1869. After many years at the University of Bonn he was appointed professor of chemistry at the University of Göttingen in 1889, a post he held until his retirement in 1915. Wallach remained an active researcher until 1927.

Wallach’s main contribution was in laying the groundwork for the identification of the terpenes – a group of natural and synthetic hydrocarbons – and in determining the characteristics of camphor. camphor is a natural substance with a sharp aromatic smell, used in medicine for its sterilizing and anesthetic capabilities, and in the cosmetics industry for its pleasant aroma.

Wallach’s main contribution was in laying the groundwork for the identification of the terpenes – a group of natural and synthetic hydrocarbons – and in determining the characteristics of camphor. camphor is a natural substance with a sharp aromatic smell, used in medicine for its sterilizing and anesthetic capabilities, and in the cosmetics industry for its pleasant aroma.

Source:https://lnkd.in/diPJUYx8

BASF to Offer Butanediol and Polytetrahydrofuran with Reduced Carbon Footprints

From early 2024 onward, BASF will offer its products 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®) as ‘LowPCF’ products.

BASF has calculated the individual product carbon footprints (PCF) of both chemical products. The results were compared with assessments of market-wide average carbon footprints of the corresponding products of third parties.

Factors Contributing to Lower Carbon Footprints:

The analysis shows that due to BASF’s production setup, the PCFs of BDO and derivatives such as PolyTHF are significantly below the global average PCF of the corresponding third-party chemicals that are all produced from fossil-based raw materials.

On its journey to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, BASF is the first large chemical company to make available to its customers the individual PCFs of all its sales products. The PCF comprises the total greenhouse gas emissions that occur until the product leaves BASF’s factory gate for the customer: from the extraction of resources through manufacturing of precursors to the making of the final chemical product itself.

The PCF is determined by various factors. For example, energy generation in BASF’s own gas-fired combined heat and power plants generates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions compared to other conventional energy generation methods.

In addition, production processes of LowPCF intermediates are characterized by high production efficiency in terms of energy and raw material consumption due to BASF’s integrated Verbund system and continuous efforts in operational excellence. Finally, LowPCF intermediates generally use oil, natural gas or Verbund by-products, but not coal, as primary raw materials. Due to its chemical properties, the use of coal generally results in a higher carbon footprint of downstream products compared to those based on natural gas or oil.

BDO and PolyTHF as Essential Raw Materials:

BDO is mainly used for the production of PolyTHF. BASF’s customers use PolyTHF for example to produce elastic spandex and elastane fibers that are used for a wide range of textiles such as swimsuits, sportswear, and underwear, but also outerwear such as shirts and stretch jeans. The elastic fibers ensure wearing comfort in the long run, they are resistant to moisture and microbes.

PolyTHF also serves as a chemical building block for the production of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), which BASF customers use to make highly abrasion-resistant and elastic hoses, films and cable sheathing, primarily for the automotive industry. Other applications include thermoplastic polyetheresters, polyetheramides and cast elastomers for the manufacture of wheels, for example for skateboards and inline skates. With a total of five production plants for PolyTHF in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, BASF is one of the world’s most important suppliers of this versatile intermediate.

BDO is also a starting material for polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), an engineering plastic that is used successfully (under the BASF trade name Ultradur®) in the automotive, electrical and electronics industries. BDO also serves as an intermediate for the production of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), whose main applications are as essential solvents in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and for lithium-ion battery cathodes e.g., for electrical vehicles.

“Company CO2 emission reduction targets are playing an increasingly important role in the value chains we serve. With our LowPCF intermediates, we are supporting our customers in achieving their targets: They now have the option to consciously choose a product with a carbon footprint significantly below the global market average,” said Ketan Joshi, head of BASF’s Intermediates operating division. “By making CO2 emission data at the individual product level available to our customers, we also offer a level of transparency that is unique in the chemical industry.”

Source: BASF

Studies Prove Recycling Compatibility of PA-containing Multilayer Films

 Following the studies already conducted in 2021 on the recyclability of coextruded polyethylene/ #polyamide (PE/PA) multilayer films, the independent institute cyclos-HTP GmbH has completed further extensive investigations into the recyclability of multilayer films containing polyamide 6 (PA6) and #ethylvinylalcohol (EVOH) copolymer.

Compatible for Recycling in the Polyethylene Film Stream:

The subjects of the studies commissioned by #BASF SE are coextruded PE/PA6/EVOH high-barrier films as well as and laminated PA6/PE films in household packaging waste. It has now been demonstrated that these two film types are also compatible for recycling in the polyethylene.

“The results show that PE film waste streams containing PA can be processed without significant adjustments to the recycling process. The certification confirms the standard market practice of PA-containing film waste already being recycled by film manufacturers today.

The compatibilizer, which is incorporated additionally into laminated structures to enable distribution of the PA component in the PE matrix, plays an important role. In coextruded structures, the already present tie layer used to bond PA and PE in the film becomes an effective compatibilizer during the recycling process.If additional functionalized #polyethylene (PE-g-MAH) is also added as a compatibilizer during primary film production, the polyamide is even recognized as a valuable material in the polyethylene recyclate by cyclos-HTP.”

Polyamides Help Reducing Packaging Waste:

The study on adhesive-laminated PE/PA films, which was set up in cooperation with SÜDPACK a manufacturer of high-performance films, clearly shows how these films, which were previously considered non-recyclable, can also be made recycling compatible. In this project, a laminating adhesive from Henkel was used. Based on the new studies, a broad portfolio of PA-containing packaging can now be certified as #recycling compatible.

Due to their unique property profile, polyamides reduce the amount of material used in packaging applications and therefore help to reduce packaging waste. They also improve the mechanical, thermal and processing properties of the packaging. While PE/PA/EVOH films are used in many cheese and sausage packaging requiring a high oxygen barrier, laminated structures are mainly found in printed film packaging in this segment.

Last year, the German minimum standard for determining the recyclability of packaging subject to system participation pursuant to Section 21 (3) VerpackG already recognized the recyclability of coextruded PE/PA films. The certification is another important fundament for a fact-based classification of polyamides in packaging. The results are made available both to the CEN standardization group, which is developing a “Design for Recycling” guideline at European level.

Source: BASF/specialchem

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: FDA CLEARS NOVEL CERVICAL INTERVERTEBRAL PEKK IMPLANT

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

FDA CLEARS NOVEL CERVICAL INTERVERTEBRAL PEKK IMPLANT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance to a novel #cervical intervertebral body fusion system based on a new material, OXPEKK.

According to its supplier, VySpine™, LLC, the new system, brand named ClariVy OsteoVy™ PEKK, provides better osseointegration than PEEK (poly-ether-ether-ketone) which has been demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo studies utilizing animal models. PEKK also allows manufacturers to create porous shapes which facilitate bone ingrowth while also providing polymer’s signature lack of radiographic interference and biocompatibility, meaning no fibrotic tissue membrane formation.

According to the FDA 510(k) summary document, the ClariVy Osteo Vy™ system is indicated for “intervertebral body fusion of the spine in skeletally mature patients.” The systems are designed for “use with autogenous bone graft to facilitate fusion” and “one device may be used per intervertebral space.”

Additionally, the implants are intended to be used with “legally cleared supplemental spinal fixation cleared for the implanted level,” namely, at one level in the cervical spine, from C3 to Tl, for treatment of cervical degenerate disc disease.

It is to be used in patients who “have six weeks of non-operative treatment.”

The device is called the ClariVy™ Cervical IBF System. In order to qualify for 510(k) clearance, the device must be substantially equivalent to a predicate device. The ClariVy Cervical IBF System is substantially equivalent to the primary predicate device of the same name in terms of “material, intended use, levels of attachment, size range, and use with supplemental fixation.”

The ClariVy OsteoVy™ PEKK Cervical IBF System is different from the primary predicate device because it utilizes OXPEKK material. VySpine submitted the device for 510(k) clearance. According to the company, “#PEKK (unlike PEEK) implants demonstrate #bone ingrowth, no radiographic interference, no fibrotic tissue membrane formation, significant increase in bony apposition over time, and significantly higher push-out strength compared to standard PEEK.”

The ClariVy OsteoVy PEKK clearance is the first in a long line of VySpine implants which will utilize the unique qualities of our proprietary OsteoVy PEKK designs.”As we researched OXPEKK and its unique characteristics, we began to realize that its composition accomplishes what we as an industry had always hoped PEEK would accomplish. But #PEEK fell short. We are very excited about the OXPEKK material and our partnership with Oxford Performance Materials to make this new device possible.”

Specifically, PEKK provides higher push-out strength compared to standard PEEK and, as noted earlier, bone growth characteristics comparable to Ti-coated PEEK with significant improvements in implant integrity and radiographic properties.

Source:https://ryortho.com/

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Sulzer Launches Licensed Technology to Manufacture PCL, a Biodegradable Polyester

Sulzer is launching a new end-to-end licensed technology – CAPSUL™ – for the continuous manufacturing of #polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polyester often used in the packaging, textile, agricultural and horticultural industries.

Includes All Purification and Polymerization Steps:

The CAPSUL™ solution enables optimal process performance for production of premier quality PCL grades at competitive rates. It joins Sulzer’s existing offering in renewable and #circularplastic technologies, including

#polylacticacid (PLA) process technology.

Sulzer Chemtech’s CAPSUL™ PCL technology includes all purification and #polymerization steps as part of a fully integrated, highly efficient and continuous process. Building on Sulzer’s expertise in separation and reaction processes, the new #biopolymer technology is highly adaptable to a broad range of industrial scales that can help drive adoption of #biodegradable and compostable PCL. Key applications for high-quality PCL include consumer packaging, #3D printing, #footwear, #agriculturalfilms, textiles, and #medicaldevices.

Uwe Boltersdorf, Chemtech Division president at Sulzer, comments, “As a biodegradable polymer, PCL has a crucial role to play in the reduction of plastic waste. We look forward to enabling the larger scale production of PCL from conventional and more renewable resources, as we continue to support industry stakeholders leverage their competitive edge in #sustainability.”

Source: Sulzer/omnexus-specialchem.com

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