Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “polyethylene packaging”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Systems Analysis and Optimization of Circular PET Packaging Supply Chains in the United States: Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts

Many actions are underway at global, national, and local levels to address the plastic waste problem and transition toward a circular economy of plastics. Studies evaluating environmental and socioeconomic impacts of such a transition are lacking. Here, the purpose of this study is to conduct a national systems analysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging supply chains in the United States. Material flow data was combined with environmental and socioeconomic indicators to evaluate and compare the sustainability of the linear PET packaging supply chain, current (2019) supply chain, and possible future circular supply chain options in the United States. Environmentally optimal circular US PET packaging material flows showed 31% and 38% savings of GHG emissions and energy demand, respectively, with a circularity of 77% when compared with a linear supply chain. Additionally, the environmentally optimal system showed higher employment (29%) and wages (31%) than a linear system, but with a 5% decrease in revenue generation. A socioeconomically optimal circular PET supply chain showed increased employment (by 52%), wages (by 67%), and revenues (by 1%), with a circularity of 59% when compared with the linear system. However, it showed 14% higher GHG emissions than a linear system, indicating a trade-off between environmentally and socioeconomically optimal circular PET packaging systems. Overall, linear-to-circular material flow transition may not necessarily lead to increased revenues and decreased environmental impacts of the entire system, but it does benefit society due to increased employment and wages. Future systems analysis work should focus on improving data quality for environmental and socioeconomic dimensions.

PET↗
DOE OSTI2025

Environmental and socio-economic Pareto-front trade-off analysis of U.S. PET packaging material in a circular economy

Various recycling technologies are emerging to implement circular economy in plasticssupply chain systems. However, the environmental and socio-economic trade-offs of in circular economy are not well understood at a systems level. Particularly, quantifying these trade-offs as a function of end-of-life (EOL) management decisions, including transition of recycling technologies, systems level metrics such as circularity, recycled content, and the need for fossil-derived plastics are not well understood. Here, the present study addressed these research gaps by applying a systems analysis modeling approach that utilizes material flow analysis, life cycle assessment, socioeconomic data, and system optimization techniques for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging supply chains in the United States. Pareto-front trade-offs between conflicting environmental and socio-economic impacts as well as those between socioeconomic impacts and circularity were explored using the epsilon constraint method. The Pareto-front trade-off analysis revealed the transition of EOL management strategies for PET packaging systems, including changes in selection of recycling technologies, to aid decision making process by quantifying studied system metrics. Transitioning from environmentally optimal to socio-economically optimal systems led to increased employment (by 17%), wages (by 26%), and revenues (by 6%) but also led to increased global warming potential (GWP; by 65%), energy consumption (by 59%), and reliance on fossil PET in the system (by 78%). Finally, the results show that there is not a unique set of recycling technologies to achieve a sustainable circular economy of PET packaging system, instead it depends on the decision maker’s objectives and targeted metrics of the system.

54 - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES/GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Biodegradable High-Molecular-Weight Poly(pentylene adipate- co -terephthalate): Synthesis, Thermo-Mechanical Properties, Microstructures, and Biodegradation

Poly(pentylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PPAT) is a promising biobased and biodegradable polymer that can replace polyethylene in flexible packaging films where biodegradability is desired. High-molecular-weight (100K–145 KDa) aliphatic–aromatic polyester PPAT was successfully synthesized, and the effects of reaction conditions on molecular weight were reported. PPAT polyesters were characterized for polymer compositions, number-average unit length, thermal transitions, and rheological properties. PPAT compression-molded films were characterized for crystallinity and tensile properties to correlate micro- and macroproperties. PPAT compression-molded films exhibited up to a 76% higher tensile modulus than compression-molded films from poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), making PPAT films potentially comparable with compression-molded films from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Finally, PPAT is biodegradable in soil and freshwater environments with estimated 90% biodegradation times of 504–580 and 604–845 days, respectively, while PBAT takes 971 days in soil and 395 days in freshwater.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Polyethylene Blends for Improved Oxygen Barrier: Processing-Dependent Microstructure and Gas Permeability

Here this work demonstrates a greater than expected enhancement of oxygen barrier properties in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)-based materials by blending LLDPE with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The films made by melt pressing the LLDPE/HDPE blends had a greater reduction in oxygen permeability coefficients (PO 2 ) than predicted using common permeability reduction models, i.e., the harmonic average model and zero-permeability nanofiller model. The reduction of PO 2 was attributed to the presence of spherulite crystal structures, as revealed by atomic force microscopy combined with infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR). The LLDPE matrix exhibited significant spherulite formation even at a relatively low addition of HDPEs, which likely formed tortuous pathways for diffusing oxygen molecules. Transport results from melt-pressed films contrast with the results from films with similar compositions prepared by film blowing, which did not show barrier enhancement beyond expectation. AFM-IR revealed that the blown films lacked spherulite crystals likely due to stretching in the machine direction followed by rapid cooling. These findings demonstrate the role of processing in controlling microstructures and thus the oxygen barrier performance. This work offers the possibility of achieving easily recyclable LLDPE-based packaging materials by simple blending of polyethylenes with different crystalline content.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1978

Food packages for Space Shuttle

The paper reviews food packaging techniques used in space flight missions and describes the system developed for the Space Shuttle. Attention is directed to bite-size food cubes used in Gemini, Gemini rehydratable food packages, Apollo spoon-bowl rehydratable packages, thermostabilized flex pouch for Apollo, tear-top commercial food cans used in Skylab, polyethylene beverage containers, Skylab rehydratable food package, Space Shuttle food package configuration, duck-bill septum rehydration device, and a drinking/dispensing nozzle for Space Shuttle liquids. Constraints and testing of packaging is considered, a comparison of food package materials is presented, and typical Shuttle foods and beverages are listed.

Fohey, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Microscale synthesis and characterization of polystyrene: NSF-POLYED scholars project

Polystyrene is a familiar polymer with many commercial uses. Its applications range from the clear, high index of refraction, brittle plastic used to form audio cassette and CD cases to the foamed material used in insulated drink cups and packaging material. Polystyrene constitutes 11 percent of the plastics used in packaging with only High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) contributing a larger share: so much polystyrene is used today, it is one of six common plastics that manufacturers have assigned an identification code. The code helps recycling efforts. Polystyrene's code is (PS code 6). During the summer and fall of 1992 several new polymeric experiments were developed by the NSF POLYED Scholars for introduction into the chemistry core curriculum. In this presentation, one such project will be discussed. This laboratory project is recommended for a first or second year laboratory course allowing the introduction of polymeric science to undergraduates at the earliest opportunity. The reliability of the experiments which make up this project and the recognition factor of polystyrene, a material we come in contact with everyday, makes the synthesis and characterization of polystyrene a good choice for the introduction of polymerization to undergraduates. This laboratory project appeals to the varied interests of students enrolled in the typical first year chemistry course and becomes an ideal way to introduce polymers to a wide variety of science and engineering students.

Quaal, Karen S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Backbone editing and deconstruction of polyethylene by Beckmann rearrangement and hydrogenolysis

Polyethylene is the most widely produced commodity plastic and is used in many applications, including packaging, insulation, and medical devices. However, the inertness of polyethylene makes chemical recycling inefficient and challenging. We report the conversion of oxidized high-density and low-density polyethylene, formed by direct, catalytic oxidation, to polyamides by Beckmann rearrangement of the corresponding oximes. These polyamides have enhanced surface properties over those of unmodified polyethylene, while maintaining the same, favorable mechanical profiles. The amide sites were reductively cleaved by hydrogenolysis with ruthenium-based catalysts to furnish alcohol- and amine-terminated fragments, which were used for the synthesis of polyurea-urethanes with poly(tetrahydrofuran) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. These experiments show how to install cleavable moieties into the backbone of polyethylene to facilitate deconstruction and the generation of new materials to affect greater sustainability in polyolefins.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hybrid Chemo-Mechanical Plastics Recycling: Solvent-free, High-speed Reactive Extrusion of Low-Density Polyethylene

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is ubiquitous in the packaging industry due to its flexibility, toughness, and low cost. However, it is typically contaminated with other materials, seriously limiting options for mechanical recycling. Interest in chemical recycling techniques such as pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction is growing, but most of these processes face technoeconomic challenges that have limited commercial deployment. We present a hybrid chemo-mechanical approach using reactive twin-screw extrusion (TSE) for tailoring the molecular weight and chain structure of reclaimed LDPE. Two types of zeolite catalysts at several loading levels were evaluated over a range of processing conditions. Structural, thermal, and rheological properties of the extruded samples were investigated and compared to virgin LDPE and LDPE extruded without the catalyst. A nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic technique was used to investigate changes in the structure of the polymer. LDPE extruded with microporous y-zeolite showed lower degradation temperature and increased short chain branching. Mesoporous MCM-41 also induced increased branching but had no effect on degradation temperature. The theoretical mechanical energy input for the chemical modification was calculated using process modeling. The demonstrated hybrid reactive extrusion process provides a potential low-cost, simple approach for repurposing LDPE-based flexible packaging as coatings and adhesives.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sensitivity Calculations for Systems with Polyethylene Reflector Materials Using CLUTCH

The SCALE 6.2.4 code package contains four sequences for calculating $k_{eff}$ sensitivity coefficients. Two of these sequences use deterministic transport solvers: a one-dimensional (1D) capability based on XSDRN, and a two-dimensional (2D) capability based on NEWT. These sequences are restricted to the multigroup (MG) treatment of neutron energy. The three-dimensional (3D) sequences use the KENO V.a or KENO-VI Monte Carlo transport codes and can be used to calculate sensitivity coefficients with either MG or continuous-energy (CE) transport. The 3D sensitivities are ultimately reported in an MG structure, regardless of the method used in the transport calculations. If desired, the sensitivity coefficients can be reported with very fine energy resolution from a CE calculation, but they are calculated only in the MG library structure in the MG mode. CE TSUNAMI methods are available in SCALE starting in SCALE version 6.2. Sensitivity coefficients were generated using the 3D sequences as part of the generation of the SCALE 6.2.2 Validation Report; difficulties encountered when using the CLUTCH method for thick, fissionable-material reflectors were discussed and investigated as documented in a previous paper. This paper discusses the difficulties encountered in generating accurate sensitivity coefficients using the CLUTCH technique for polyethylene reflectors for two fast spectrum benchmarks. Direct perturbation (DP) calculations were performed to confirm the accuracy of the total sensitivity coefficient for important isotopes with large sensitivities in the system. Discrepancies were detected for CLUTCH-calculated sensitivity coefficients in the reflector of a critical experiment with a radial polyethylene reflector. A simple polyethylene-reflected plutonium sphere was then used to further investigate the discrepancy. Calculations performed using the iterated fission probability (IFP) method generated accurate sensitivity coefficients in both cases. The results of this study emphasize the need to confirm CLUTCH sensitivity results with DP calculations. IFP calculations are generally less efficient but more reliable than CLUTCH calculations. Improvements to the CLUTCH methodology that retain the greater efficiency but address identified difficulties are therefore potentially useful to analysts.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Catalytic Deconstruction of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer and Polyethylene Mixtures via Hydroconversion: Challenges and Solutions

We explore hydrogenolysis over ruthenium supported on zirconia (Ru/ZrO 2 ) and hydrocracking over platinum (Pt) supported on zeolites as an effective end-of-life strategy for ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)–a widely used performance heat sealant in hard-to-recycle multilayer packaging. For Ru/ZrO 2 hydrogenolysis, EVA reacts slower than low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and the catalyst deactivates due to carbonaceous deposits originating from polyenes generated in situ during EVA thermal degradation. High H 2 pressures and temperatures can overcome catalyst deactivation; however, CH 4 yields are excessive due to cascade hydrogenolysis stemming from strong C=C/metal interactions. Polyene hydrogenation allows chains anchored by C=C to desorb from Ru, shifting product selectivity from CH 4 to higher-value liquids. Hydrogenolysis of mixed EVA and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), mirroring typical frozen food packaging formulations, results in comparable catalyst activity and CH 4 yield as the pure EVA resin. For Pt/zeolite hydrocracking, pure EVA and EVA:LLDPE mixtures are deconstructed to propane or light naphtha with minimal CH 4 production. Among catalysts tested, Pt/HY gives the highest liquid productivity (g C5+products /g cat ·h). Furthermore, these findings showcase the recalcitrant nature of EVA and its associated mixtures for Ru/ZrO 2 hydrogenolysis, highlighting that hydrocracking catalysts may be superior for complex packaging waste.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Synthesis and characterization of biobased copolyesters based on pentanediol: (2) Poly(pentylene adipate–co–terephthalate)

Traditionally, most flexible food packaging is made of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) which cannot easily be recycled, nor will it degrade in a reasonable timescale. In this work, a biobased biodegradable polyester alternative was investigated as a possible replacement for LLDPE. High molecular weight poly (pentylene adipate-co-terephthalate) with a 40/60 adipic acid/terephthalic acid mole ratio was synthesized using direct esterification and polycondensation. Glycerol and hexane-1,2,5,6-tetrol were added as branching agents to better match the structure of the LLDPE which in turn might help the ability of these materials in film-blowing. Thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of the copolyesters were thoroughly investigated. All copolyesters had a weight-average molecular weight of over 140,000 g/mol, which is necessary for proper rheology, and were thermally stable up to 350°C. Here, the addition of branching agents led to a slight decrease in crystallinity, d-spacing, melting temperature, enthalpy of melting, stress at break, and elongation at break. However, an increase in Young's modulus and complex viscosity at high frequency were observed compared to PPeAT60 without branching agent added. Although the improved crystallinity and mechanical properties of the copolyesters made them viable for film-blowing, the slow crystallization rate creates a major challenge.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Delamination of Multilayer Plastic Films to Recover Polyethylene with Favorable Mechanical Properties

Multilayer plastic films play a critical role in packaging, with each polymer layer contributing specific properties to the multilayer film. Multilayer plastic films are not currently recyclable due to the bound polymers. With multilayer film production of about 20 million metric tons in 2024 and rising, endof- life treatment becomes pressing. This work presents a scalable solvent-based delamination recycling process that is applied to commercial postindustrial multimaterial films to unbind the materials within a multilayer film by dissolving only the adhesive layer and recover polyethylene (PE) as an intact solid film. Solventbased delamination is a simple process that allows the complete recovery of materials and solvents used in the process. The delaminating solvent, 88% formic acid in water, induces delamination of PE/PEI/PET and PE/PU/PET films at 70 °C in under an hour. Recovered PE has no contamination detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mechanical properties on par with those of virgin resin. The recovery of high-quality solid PE film fit for reprocessing, at low operating temperatures and with closed-loop solvent reuse, promotes delamination as a low energy consumption and environmentally friendly recycling process. PE recovered from delamination can be reused in equivalent products, promoting circularity of multimaterial films.

chemical recycling↗
NASA NTRS2014

NASA, We Have a Challenge and It's Food Packaging

Current Packaging: Freeze Dried Foods Packaging  The thermoformed base is fabricated from Combitherm PAXX230 [a coextrusion of nylon/medium-density polyethylene (MDPE)/nylon/ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/nylon/MDPE/linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)].  The lid is fabricated from Combitherm PAXX115 (a coextrusion of nylon/EVOH/nylon/LF adhesive/HV polyethylene/LLDPE)  Natural form (Bite size) foods  The bite-size food package is fabricated from Combitherm PAXX115, a coextrusion of nylon/EVOH/nylon/LF adhesive/HV polyethylene/LLDPE.  Overwrap  Packages are wrapped in a white pouch,.003-mm thick, fabricated from a laminate of polyester/polyethylene/aluminum foil/Surlyn®. This overwrap is removed before the food is prepared and heated. Requirements  High barrier packaging - low oxygen and water vapor transmission rates  No aluminum layer  Mass - <145 grams per m2  Flexible  Puncture resistant  Approved for food use  Amenable to sterilization  Able to be heat sealed  Preferred (not required)  Transparent  Retortable, microwavable, high pressure use. Small Business Innovative Research Program - 7 years  8 Phase I contracts  4 Phase II contracts  Two workshops to bring together food packaging experts  Three internal research tasks  Public Outreach - average of 3 presentations/yr. for 8 years describing NASA's challenges  Department of Defense Collaboration - Combat Feeding Program No significant improvement in food packaging capabilities after these efforts. It was unlikely that a food packaging solution could be found within the food science community  There was a need to go outside to other industries such as pharmaceutical or electrical  Although a positive result was preferred, a negative result would also be useful  Two Innovation Techniques were used as a comparison  InnoCentive - Theoretical Challenge to identify new technologies  Yet2.com - A matchmaker between NASA and commercial packaging manufacturers

Perchonok, Michele↗
DOE OSTI2022

Improved Polypropylene Thermoformability through Polyethylene Layering

Due to its low cost, stiffness, and recyclability, isotactic polypropylene (iPP) is an excellent candidate for packaging applications. However, iPP is notoriously difficult to thermoform due to its low melt strength. The addition of just 10 thin layers of high-molecular-weight, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) into iPP sheets by coextrusion significantly increased extensional viscosity and reduced sag. Both LLDPE and iPP were metallocene-catalyzed with excellent adhesion as measured in our previous work. Here, we performed a series of hot tensile tests and sheet sag measurements to determine the properties of the iPP sheet and the multilayer sheet between 130 and 180 °C. To evaluate the thermoformability of these multilayer sheets, truncated conical cups were positive vacuum formed at different temperatures and heating times, and the crush strength was measured. Cups that released easily from the mold with good shape retention and a crush strength within 80% of the maximum value were used to define a temperature–time thermoformability window. We estimated the maximum stress that occurred during the thermoforming process to be 5 MPa. Layer thicknesses before and after thermoforming were used to estimate an average strain of 0.78. The thin LLDPE layers decreased the yield stress below 5 MPa. This enabled thermoforming at sheet temperatures as low as 150 °C. The immiscible LLDPE interfaces increased extensional viscosity, which decreased sag in the multilayer sheets compared to iPP. This broadened the thermoforming range to temperatures as high as 180 °C and allowed longer heating times. These highly thermoformable, layered sheets may be recycled as iPP since they contain only 8% of LLDPE.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Hydrogenolysis Versus Hydrocracking for Polyolefin Upcycling

Global plastic production has reached 413.8 million metric tons in 2024 and is forecasted to surpass 1.2 billion metric tons by 2050. Polyolefins, mainly polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), dominate single-use packaging and account for approximately 55% of global plastic waste. The chemical inertness that makes these materials desirable for commercial applications also renders them persistent in the environment. Current recycling technologies have proven to be insufficient to divert plastic waste from landfills or environmental loss due to technical limitations and poor economic incentives. Conventional mechanical recycling is a form of downcycling, in which the polymer remelting process results in products with inferior material properties and reduced market value. Pyrolysis, a thermochemical route used for the chemical recycling of plastic wastes into refinery feedstock, requires severe conditions, typically 400–600 °C in an oxygen-free environment. The high temperature drives up energy costs and produces a wide range of poorly defined products, including undesirable light gases and heavy tars that pose challenges for downstream processing. As an alternative, catalytic chemical recycling offers a promising route for converting waste polyolefins back into value-added hydrocarbons—such as fuels, lubricant base oils, and other chemical feedstocks—at temperatures typically below 300 °C. This opinion article focuses on two dominant pathways in heterogeneous catalysis that are used to cleave the C–C bonds of polyolefins: hydrogenolysis and hydrocracking. Both catalytic pathways have the potential to selectively convert polyolefin waste into valuable fuels and chemical feedstocks under mild conditions. Notably, while hydrocracking primarily yields branched hydrocarbon products, hydrogenolysis predominantly produces linear hydrocarbons. Here, we compare the mechanisms and catalyst designs for hydrocracking and hydrogenolysis, analyze critical technical challenges from catalyst stability to process engineering, and provide an outlook on how these complementary pathways can be used to repurpose plastic waste into valuable products.

Zhang, Ruoxi [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United S↗
DOE OSTI2024

Terephthalic Acid Synthesis from Ethanol via p-Methyl Benzaldehyde

Terephthalic acid (TA) is a high volume and high market commodity chemical which is a monomer used in making polyethylene terephthalate (known as PET) for beverage bottles and packaging films. The global demand for TA in 2012 was 47 million ton and it is expected to grow at a 6 percent rate to reach around 65 million ton in 2018. TA is currently made from petroleum derived p-xylene produced as a co-product during ethylene production in the naphtha cracking process. At present, ethylene is mostly made by ethane cracking of cheap natural gas-shale gas, making naphtha cracking to produce p-xylene uneconomical. Combined with potential unavailability of the petroleum based p-xylene to meet market demand and the end user’s interest in sustainable PET products has created significant attention towards biomass based feed sources for the TA production. The goal of the proposed work is to develop a catalytic process from a biomass-sourced feedstock to a chemical intermediate that can serve as the basis for the economical and renewable TA production that meets market needs.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cast Film Production with Polyethylene Recycled from a Post-Industrial Printed Multilayer Film by Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation

The solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation (STRAP) process separates and recovers the constituent resins in multilayer plastic packaging films by selective polymer dissolution. In this work, three different experimental methods were considered to recover a polyethylene (PE) resin from a printed multilayer film by STRAP. The methods consisted of (1) a filter bag system, (2) a Soxhlet extraction, and (3) a jacketed dissolution vessel. Cast films were produced with the PE recovered from each method and were analyzed for color, mechanical properties, and number of impurities. High-quality recycled PE cast films can be produced by increasing the solvent to plastic ratio, including a filter pore size of 100 μm, and optimizing temperature control in STRAP. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that STRAP polymers can be recycled back into plastic films, enabling the potential circularity of these packaging materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Recycling of a post-industrial printed multilayer plastic film containing polyurethane inks by solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation

The recently reported Solvent-Targeted Recovery And Precipitation (STRAP) strategy is used to deconstruct multilayer plastic packaging films into their constituent resins by selective polymer dissolution. To broaden the applicability of STRAP, we demonstrate the process with a flexible post-industrial printed multilayer plastic film used for food packaging. The material was a reverse printed film composed of polyethylene (PE), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyurethane (PU)-based inks. Removal of all colors was observed with biomass-derived gamma-valerolactone (GVL) and the recovered polymers possessed comparable properties to the corresponding virgin resins. A technoeconomic analysis indicates that this STRAP process could be economically feasible at a processing capacity of 6,000 tons per year. Furthermore, the production of plastic films with materials recovered by this STRAP process can have a lower climate change impact than the production of films from virgin polymers.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗