Evaluation of thermochemical recycling of disposable products from healthcare and sorted plastic-rich material streams from household waste
Due to their complexity, many polymer-rich waste streams have no clear recycling options, despite the fact that the input materials when the products were produced were of high quality and the chemical value of the various components is high. Examples of such streams are disposable products from healthcare, diapers, which are often composites of various polymers and cellulose fibers, and this waste is treated in Sweden today mainly with the help of waste incineration/energy recovery.
If the carbon dioxide from waste incineration of these products is not captured and used as starting material for equivalent or the same materials, the production of these products cannot therefore become circular. However, these flows have the potential to contribute to the raw material supply of a petrochemical cluster through different means of chemical recovery depending on their composition.
Possible techniques for chemical recovery are high-temperature pyrolysis to monomers and syngas, low-temperature pyrolysis to oil with subsequent gasification or cracking, gasification, and as a last resort, combustion and carbon capture with the subsequent synthesis of new materials based on carbon dioxide, so-called CCU.
The project intends to investigate the chemical recycling of complex polymer-rich materials and their role in a circular material supply. The approach is to characterize products from chemical recycling of complex polymer-rich waste streams by closing the mass balance for the products that are formed. The alternatives are then evaluated according to carbon recovery rate and energy demand, where results from the survey can serve as a basis for strategic path choices toward a circular raw material supply. The project targets companies along the entire life cycle, from production, waste management, and recycling to raw material and chemical production. The project is expected to contribute relevant experimental data that can be used to provide a better scientific basis for comparing different recycling routes to high-quality materials and chemicals for these materials.
Participating Parties
Chalmers, RISE, Borealis AB , Mölnlycke Health Care, Bioshare AB, Västra Götaland region and Perstorp AB
Period
2022-08-01– 2023-05-30
Total budget
SEK 812,800
You can read the project's final report here:
Contact the Operational Area Manager
