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Demonstration of Innovative Technologies towards a more Efficient and Sustainable Plastic Recycling

Project description

Innovative technologies that separate plastics move us closer to a future without plastic waste

Plastic pollution is growing relentlessly as the recycling rate is low. A main reason for this is the heterogeneous nature of plastics. Existing sorting and waste management systems cannot separate plastic blends and composites. The overall objective of the EU-funded POLYNSPIRE project is to increase the recycling and valorisation rates of plastic-containing waste. POLYNSPIRE will demonstrate cost-effective and sustainable solutions aiming at improving the energy and resource efficiency of plastic recycling. Project activities will rest on three pillars: chemical recycling to recover plastic monomers and valuable fillers, mechanical recycling to enhance the quality of the recycled plastics and material valorisation of low-grade plastics for use in the steel industry.

Objective

The main objective of POLYNSPIRE is to demonstrate a set of innovative, cost-effective and sustainable solutions, aiming at improving the energy and resource efficiency of post-consumer and post-industrial plastic recycling processes, targeting 100% waste streams containing at least 80% of plastic materials. To this end, three innovation pillars are addressed at TRL7: A) Chemical recycling assisted by microwaves and smart magnetic catalysts as a path to recover plastic monomers and valuable fillers (carbon or glass fibres), B) Advanced additivation and high energy irradiation to enhance recycled plastics quality and C) Valorisation of plastic waste as carbon source in steel industry. Innovations A and B can lead up to 34% of fossil fuel direct reduction for PA and 32% for PU. Approach C can lead to reductions of around 80% of fossil carbon sources in electric arc furnaces. The demonstration is completed by the performance of a rigorous holistic environmental and economic analysis (LCA and LCC) to ensure the industrial feasibility and the accomplishment of environmental restrictions. Efforts are dedicated to analyse non-technological barriers (legislative or standardization) that could hinder the proper innovations deployment.
POLYNSPIRE also implies the development of a comprehensive business plan, gathering 7 business models and establishing a cross-linked relation between plastic, chemical and steel manufacturing industries. Its consortium, coordinated by CIRCE, ensures POLYNSPIRE success through the involvement of 4 RTOs, 1 university, 9 large companies, 6 SMEs and 2 multiplier associations. To that end, chemical companies (REPSOL QUIMICA, ARKEMA, NOVAMONT, NUREL and KOR), plastic compounders (BADA) and converters (MAIER), waste managers (IDS), technology developers (CIRCE, NIC, ION, AITIIP, TUe, CSM), equipment and steel manufacturers (FM, CPPE, HTT, FENO), exploitation (VTG), standardisation (DS) and dissemination (EUPC and IKMIB) entities are involved in the consortium.

Call for proposal

H2020-NMBP-ST-IND-2018-2020

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Sub call

H2020-NMBP-SPIRE-2018

Coordinator

FUNDACION CIRCE CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION DE RECURSOS Y CONSUMOS ENERGETICOS
Net EU contribution
€ 1 483 812,51
Address
PARQUE EMPRESARIAL DINAMIZA, AVDA. DE RANILLAS, 3D
50018 Zaragoza
Spain

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Region
Noreste Aragón Zaragoza
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 1 483 812,51

Participants (27)