Restoration of value to polyethylene / aluminum waste from cardboard packaging of long life type, post-consumption

• Grant number: 02/12927-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: October 01, 2003
• End date: May 31, 2004
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Eliezer Gibertoni
• Grantee: Eliezer Gibertoni
• Company: Eliezer Gibertoni - ME

Abstract

The objective of this project is to develop a continuous process for the recovery of waste polyethylene and aluminum derived from the recycling of cardboard packaging of the long life type, which consists of layers of paper, polyethylene and aluminum. The recovery of post-consumption cardboard packaging entails basically two different stages: the removal and recovery of the paper in paper industries and the regeneration and reuse of the polyethylene and aluminum in processes of plastics transformation. This innovation is based on the development of a disintegrator appliance, capable of removing the residual cellulose fibers present in the plastic shreds. The contamination of the cellulose fibers interferes with the thermic stability of the polymer, preventing the use of the shreds in conventional recycling processes. The innovation proposed in the building of the disintegrator involves the design of specific rotor systems to eliminate the residual cellulose fiber, together with systems of feeding and transporting the waste in an automatic and continuous manner, making it possible to obtain an increase in processing capacity with guaranteed product quality. The experiments carried out show that the material recycled in this way can be applied as raw material in the manufacture of many products in the plastics transformation industry. (AU)