Project description
Establishing a recycling value chain for a wide range of (EoL) PMMA waste types
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a transparent and rigid plastic produced from the polymerisation of methyl methacrylate (the monomer). It is often used as an alternative to glass in applications including skylights, sanitary products (bathtubs, shower trays), advertisement, interiors, automotive lighting, electronics and more. Currently, only about 10 % of annual PMMA production is recycled to recover the monomer. The EU-funded MMAtwo project is developing a novel PMMA recycling value chain and technologies from collection to depolymerization to re-use in optical and non-optical applications. There is focus on recycling end-of-life PMMA waste and contaminated PMMA waste. The consortium consists of small and large companies, research and academic partners.
Objective
PolyMethylMethAcrylate (PMMA) is a well-established polymer for its optical properties. Although PMMA can be turned back into its monomer, the technology has limited applications. Currently what is collected and reprocessed are mostly production scraps, which is about 10 % of the annual PMMA production but a much larger amount of recyclable product is available. On a world scale basis, 10 % of post-industrial scraps and the equivalent of 10 % of post-consumer products represent a potential of a Billion € market. The MMAtwo project main objective is to construct a novel and fast growing PMMA recycling value chain through depolymerization and recovery of a monomer grade sold at 90 % of virgin MMA price. MMAtwo targets to reduce the energy needs by more than 70 % and the CO2 emissions by more than 60 %. To achieve its objective, MMAtwo integrates representative players along the value chain. During the project, PMMA will be collected from production scraps, but also from End-of-Life vehicles, Electronics goods, construction…. The lead-free depolymerization process will be validated at TRL7 enabling the possibility of a first commercial unit soon after the end of the project. A versatile purification process will be validated through repolymerization of the produced monomer. MMA grades produced will be validated in several optical and non-optical applications. The inorganic fractions from PMMA composites will also be valorized. The project will establish standards for post-consumer and post-production PMMA based products in order to facilitate the recycling. Training and education activities will be organized in order to prepare the next generation of Engineers and Researchers in the field of closed-loop polymer recycling. The new value chain will benefit to the entire PMMA industry, as post-production and post-consumer products will be collected and processed by and independent company servicing the major PMMA producers and their customers.
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
3565 AR Utrecht
Netherlands
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Participants (20)
92700 Colombes
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40217 Dusseldorf
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6200 Chatelet
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
7180 Seneffe
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78280 Guyancourt
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1024 Ecublens Vd
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
20121 Milano (Mi)
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
9000 Gent
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Participation ended
35260 NIKFER
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01150 Saint-Vulbas
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4691 RX Tholen
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4824 EH Breda
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
4824 EH Breda
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Participation ended
92300 Levallois-Perret
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62010 Montecassiano
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
7512 EE Enschede
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
08297 CASTELLGALI
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4542 NH Hoek
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
92700 Colombes
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69003 Lyon
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.