Project description
Plexiglass gets a second life with inexpensive and sustainable recycling technology
Plexiglass is an important synthetic polymer that goes by the scientific name of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). It is used in car windows, smartphone screens and aquariums as well as high-tech applications in the fields of nanotechnology, biomedicine and solar power. Historically, when PMMA reached its end of life, the waste was exported to countries such as China and India. China is no longer accepting plastic waste, and PMMA is difficult to recycle because of the toxins it contains. The EU-funded P2L project has come up with a solution, recycling PMMA to MMA, a monomer that can then be reused, creating a circular economy for PMMA. The technology is also cost-effective and eco-friendly, supporting a profitable and sustainable PMMA economy.
Objective
P2L(Plant for 2nd Life), is a new generation technology for recycling polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) wastes. This technology recycles PMMA to methyl methacrylate(MMA) monomer which in turn will be used for the production of PMMA sheets known as Acrylic or Plexiglas(TM).
A plant to second life is the first step towards an endless cycle. MMA is the only plastic that can be eternally reincarnated, but only under the perfect technique. Our proposal provides this perfect technique and thus, it promotes sustainability.
M-D2, a technopolis R&D company, developed a new pyrolysis technique for safe, cheap and eco-friendly recovery of MMA. P2L technology is not the only PMMA recycling technique, however it is the most eco-friendly, lowest power consuming one. Its product RMMA(regenerated MMA) has a purity more than 99%. These make P2L the future PMMA recycling technology for European Countries and many more developed countries complying the regulations.
Making an innovative technology investment with high profit and fast return in a low competition sector is the unique selling point of P2L.
PMMA is used in the production of TV screens, LED’s, automobile rear lights, aeroplane windows, mobile phone screens and many more in optical or surface/coating solutions. Wide usage(~3.36 M tons annually) of PMMA and the expects of 100% consumption increase in 15 years, results considerable waste production. PMMA wastes are collected and shipped to developing countries as China and India.
Today a global crisis is on the way after China decided in 2017 to stop importing waste plastics. China started this waste ban in 01.01.2018. Conventional PMMA recycling techniques are restricted by regulations in the developed countries so it is a shocking threat stopping to export their waste PMMA. PMMA recovery becomes more important than the other plastics because of its technical difficulties and the lead (extreme poisonous heavy metal) pollution caused by the conventional methods.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- social sciencessociologysocial issues
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthoccupational health
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
06370 ANKARA
Türkiye
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.