Recycling of plastic bottles at gas stations and the like

• Grant number: 04/02602-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: January 01, 2005
• End date: June 30, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ivan da Cruz
• Grantee: Ivan da Cruz
• Company: Ivan da Cruz Plásticos - ME

Abstract

Gas stations discard into the environment plastic bottles of high density polyethylene (PEAD) contaminated with lubricant oil and additives used in the maintenance of motor vehicles. Since the biodegradable time span of PEAD is very long (over 100 years), these bottles reduce the useful life span of rubbish dumps and landfills. The residual oil contained in the bottles causes soil pollution, as well as complicating the recycling process. Recyclers are discouraged from processing these bottles because there is no available decontamination procedure. Based on these precedents, the present project aims to study and develop recovery and recycling processes for lubricating oil, additives and PEAD, originating in the leftover bottles in gas stations. The project has the relevant techniques for the creation of a piece of equipment called the Chemical Decontamination Phase, which is already in the secrecy phase with the National Institute for Industrial Patents (INPI). This equipment should carry out the extraction/separation of the lubricating oil contained in the plastic bottles, which subsequently will go on to be refined. The final stage will result in a viable global program to return these residual pollutants to useful life, with extremely positive gains in environmental, economic and social gains. (AU)