Recycling of Multilayer Packaging Foils by using Diferent Organic Solvent

Multilayer Packaging wastes are one of the major problem in the world. About 6 billion tons of packages aregenerated per year in the world (in EU is about 82 million tons per year). Multilayer packaging foils areapproximately 17% of all produced packaging films. Most produced multilayer film is based on differentpolymers, such as: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE) as maincomponents, and an aluminum layer. However, because of their poor recyclability, most multi layers areusually incinerated or landfill, this is counteracting the efforts towards a circular economy. There are differentrecycling methods for this type of waste, but the main problem is that there is less company which recyclingmultilayer packaging foils. Also, it is very important that, mostly they recovering only one or two componentsand others are burned or landfilled. The aim of this research was to find the most suitable solvent for recyclingmultilayer packaging foils and recover two common components: polymer and Al foil. For the first experiment,there was chosen multilayer packaging foil’s different samples, such as: packaging for chocolate, chips,medicines and coffee. There was used several chemicals: acetic acid, acetone, dimethyl formamide, ethanol,ethyl acetate and toluene. These solvents are on the list of green chemicals and they were selected, due to theirless impact on environment and human health. The recycling process and result was different for eachsamples and solvents, because of their individual characteristics.