Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE Recycling
The increased use of bioplastics in the market has led to their presence in municipal solid waste streams alongside traditional fossil-based polymers, particularly low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which bioplastics often end up mixed with. This study aimed to assess the impact of cellulose acetate p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4869 |
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| author | Giovanni Gadaleta Sabino De Gisi Andrea Sorrentino Luigi Sorrentino Michele Notarnicola Kerstin Kuchta Caterina Picuno Maria Oliviero |
| author_facet | Giovanni Gadaleta Sabino De Gisi Andrea Sorrentino Luigi Sorrentino Michele Notarnicola Kerstin Kuchta Caterina Picuno Maria Oliviero |
| author_sort | Giovanni Gadaleta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increased use of bioplastics in the market has led to their presence in municipal solid waste streams alongside traditional fossil-based polymers, particularly low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which bioplastics often end up mixed with. This study aimed to assess the impact of cellulose acetate plasticized with triacetin (CAT) on the mechanical recycling of LDPE. LDPE–CAT blends with varying CAT content (0%, 1%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% by weight) were prepared by melt extrusion and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis (thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry), dynamic rheological measurements, and tensile tests. The results indicate that the presence of CAT does not significantly affect the chemical, thermal, and rheological properties of LDPE, and the addition of CAT at different levels does not promote LDPE degradation under typical processing conditions. However, the addition of CAT negatively impacts the processability and mechanical behavior of LDPE, resulting in the reduced quality of the recycled material. Thus, the presence of cellulose-based bioplastics in LDPE recycling streams should be avoided, and a specific sorting stream for bioplastics should be established. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:35:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5930b74c65545738e62cac2f4a023ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:35:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5930b74c65545738e62cac2f4a023ac2023-11-18T17:01:01ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-07-011613486910.3390/ma16134869Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE RecyclingGiovanni Gadaleta0Sabino De Gisi1Andrea Sorrentino2Luigi Sorrentino3Michele Notarnicola4Kerstin Kuchta5Caterina Picuno6Maria Oliviero7Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n. 4, I-70125 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n. 4, I-70125 Bari, ItalyInstitute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council (CNR), P.le E. Fermi n. 1, I-80055 Portici, ItalyInstitute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council (CNR), P.le E. Fermi n. 1, I-80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n. 4, I-70125 Bari, ItalyCircular Resource Engineering and Management, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstraße n. 15, D-21079 Hamburg, GermanyDMTR Consulting SRL, Via G. Guevara 5, I-70124 Bari, ItalyInstitute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council (CNR), P.le E. Fermi n. 1, I-80055 Portici, ItalyThe increased use of bioplastics in the market has led to their presence in municipal solid waste streams alongside traditional fossil-based polymers, particularly low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which bioplastics often end up mixed with. This study aimed to assess the impact of cellulose acetate plasticized with triacetin (CAT) on the mechanical recycling of LDPE. LDPE–CAT blends with varying CAT content (0%, 1%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% by weight) were prepared by melt extrusion and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis (thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry), dynamic rheological measurements, and tensile tests. The results indicate that the presence of CAT does not significantly affect the chemical, thermal, and rheological properties of LDPE, and the addition of CAT at different levels does not promote LDPE degradation under typical processing conditions. However, the addition of CAT negatively impacts the processability and mechanical behavior of LDPE, resulting in the reduced quality of the recycled material. Thus, the presence of cellulose-based bioplastics in LDPE recycling streams should be avoided, and a specific sorting stream for bioplastics should be established.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4869bioplasticcellulose acetatemechanical recyclingLDPEplastic waste |
| spellingShingle | Giovanni Gadaleta Sabino De Gisi Andrea Sorrentino Luigi Sorrentino Michele Notarnicola Kerstin Kuchta Caterina Picuno Maria Oliviero Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE Recycling Materials bioplastic cellulose acetate mechanical recycling LDPE plastic waste |
| title | Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE Recycling |
| title_full | Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE Recycling |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE Recycling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE Recycling |
| title_short | Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE Recycling |
| title_sort | effect of cellulose based bioplastics on current ldpe recycling |
| topic | bioplastic cellulose acetate mechanical recycling LDPE plastic waste |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4869 |
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