Objective
At the moment about 1.5 million Tonnes of plastic are being recycled yearly, 75% of which is polyethylene, both low density (LDPE) and high density (HDPE). Recycling of plastic film so far one is of the weakest points in all-recycling schemes. The reason for this failure is that post-consumer plastic film waste is usually a mixture of diverse plastics, specially polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), all together comprising 95% of the total film. Although cleaning and separation of the polyolefins (LDPE, HDPE and PP) from the rest is easy using flotation or hydro-cycloning methods, individualisation of LDPE, HDPE and PP is difficult, since their respective densities are very similar while their variable shape do not allow the use of automated, sensor-based methods (such as use of near-infrared detection).
RECFINMIX proposes the Research and Development of a novel separation principle of LDPE, HDPE and PP films, based on the their differences in cristallinity. When heated, the plastic film contracts. Since LDPE has an amorphous area with a higher degree of freedom, it contracts at lower temperatures than both HDPE and PP. Thus, while at an operating temperature of around 100C, shredded LDPE film pieces will curl, equivalent pieces of HDPE and PP will not be altered at least until 120C, remaining therefore in lamellar structure. The change in dynamic shape suffered by the LDPE is enough for an accurate separation using centrifuges, obtaining highly marketable purified LDPE.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2004-SME-COOP
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
ALLO
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.