Methodology to detect the presence of recyled PET in PET food package / Metodologia para detectar a presença do PET reciclado em embalagens PET para alimentos

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

Recently, Brazil recorded mechanical recycling of the poly (ethylene terepththalate), PET, the highest in the world, corresponding to about 53 wt %. This success in the recycling industry is due to the wide range of its applications, from textiles to packaging for the food industry. The recycled food-grade packaging could be mixed with virgin resin and reprocessing. Three methodologies were used to detect the presence of the bottle-grade post-consumption PET (PETpc-btg) in the bottle-grade virgin PET (PETv-btg): differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), x-ray fluorescence and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). PETv-btg samples were supplied by the manufacturers (Braskem, Rhodia and Eastman). Samples from a superclean ® process (Bahia PET Reciclagem) were also analysed. All samples had the same intrinsic viscosity values, [h]. Braskem PETv-btg and PETpc-btg samples were blended and processed in different proportions in our laboratory using a HAAKE mixer system. DSC results show that cristallization kinetics, heat capacity (DCp), melting and crystallization temperature are the principal thermal properties that can be used to distinguish between PETv-btg and PETpc-btg. MALDI-TOF MS results together with PCA (principal component analysis) was used to classify the samples into several groups: intrinsic viscosity changes ([h] 0,80 e [h] = 0,65-60); processed and not submitted to some industrial process; wt % PETpc-btg in the PETv-btg Braskem; synthesis process change (manufacturer). From these results, it was possible to creat a calibration model, that differentiated between PETv-btg and PETpc-btg resins. However, we were not able to forecast the percentage of PETpc-btg in the PETv-btg. A model can be made from processed samples where its Mw could be corrected for solid state polymerization or the super-clean® process. XRF results show that some manufacturers use one or more catalysts for PETv-btg synthesis. The Braskem resin is made using manganese and antimony catalysts. Therefore, the prediction model is valid only when the origin of the studied mixture is known, such as PETv-btg/PETpc-btg processed blends. For other resins, the prediction model does not work. The Braskem resin had characteristics distintct from the others. We observed also that the Fe concentration in PET increase in as a function of the recycling process. Therefore, this variable could be used, in the future work, to create chemometric models incluing a higher number of variables

ASSUNTO(S)

poli(tereftalato de etileno) recycling reciclagem maldi-tof polymer degradation poly(ethylene terephthalate) polimeros - degradação

Documentos Relacionados