Brazil Invents New Ways to Strengthen Packaging Recycling

According to Brazil’s “São Paulo State” report, Brazilian researchers have recently developed a new method of recycling reinforced packaging materials and have filed a patent application.

Reinforced packaging made by layered paper, plastic and aluminum foil is increasingly used in the packaging of food and medicine. Although the reinforced packaging materials are characterized by resistance to corrosion, corrosion and freshness, the structural characteristics of the packaging have caused their recycling to become a headache and the number of them in landfills has increased.

A completely new separation technology recently developed by eight researchers from the Parana Polytechnic Institute in Brazil makes it possible to recycle the reinforced packaging material. Alisemone Takamatsu, who is in charge of the study, said: “We use a special chemical solvent to recover the three components of the package. The formula for this solvent is not disclosed, because we started 3 months ago. To apply for a patent, it takes a year to get the final certification."

Takamatsu said that after immersing the fortified bag in this solvent for two and a half minutes, the plastic, aluminum and paper in the packaging material will be layered. The three components are then manually separated and the remaining solvent is removed with high pressure. The three substances can be easily separated and recovered. This solvent is effective for any kind of paper and PVC plastic or polyethylene.

Takamatsu is very confident with his research results: "This technology is not only suitable for packaging of milk and juice, but also for thinner packaging such as salt, vacuum coffee and eggs. At present, we are still making cost estimates. The solution has not yet begun commercial production, but the cost of using this technology will not be very high, and the solvent's raw materials are not difficult to find.”