Toward recycling unsortable post-consumer WEEE stream: Characterization and impact of electron beam irradiation on mechanical properties

JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

卷:294

Article

Belyamani, Imane¹  Maris, Joachim^2,3  Bourdon, Sylvie²  Brossard, Jean-Michel²  Cauret, Laurent¹  Fontaine, Laurent³  Montembault, Veronique³ 

[1] Pole Univ Montfoulon, Inst Super Plasturgie Alencon ISPA, BP 823, F-61041 Alencon, France

[2] Veolia Rech & Innovat, 291 Ave Dreyfous Ducas, F-78520 Limay, France

[3] Le Mans Univ, CNRS, Inst Mol & Mat Mans IMMM, UMR 6283, F-72085 Le Mans 9, France

关键词: Unsortable plastics;    Post-consumer WEEE;    Electron beam irradiation;    Sampling method;    Plastics recycling;    Mechanical properties;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126300

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

The work reported here is the first study aimed at providing a full screening of a real unsortable non recycled post-consumer WEEE stream free of brominated flame retarded plastics, separated using online X-ray detection, toward its recycling. In the existing sorting lines, up to 40% of plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) stream can be rejected, herein named unsortable plastics. To have the most representative homogeneous sample for physico-chemical characterizations, a sampling method was developed to overcome the heterogeneity of the investigated 500 kg batch. The batch screening on both representative samples (-500 mu m size) and 100 plastic fractions (-20 mm size), by means of routine techniques used in the plastic industry, has allowed to quantify reliably the main polymers included in the studied batch;-50% styrene-based polymers,-15% polypropylene (PP),-15% polycarbonate (PC),-1e4% polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and-8% of multi-layer plastics, paints and thermosets. The identification of the-8.0% inorganic phase by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry revealed the presence of several additives/charges commonly incorporated in plastic materials, such as calcium carbonate and talc. The studied batch was then subjected to electron beam irradiation at 50 and 200 kGy doses, as a means of compatibilization between the batch components. The mechanical properties and thermal behavior of irradiated samples pointed out the crucial role of the residual free radical scavenger agents present in post-consumer WEEE streams, leading to significantly different properties compared to those of irradiated virgin polymer blends highlighted in the literature. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

【 授权许可】

Free