Research Project: Recycling of Multilayer Plastic Materials
The RECIPLUS project applies technologies such as physicochemical delamination, a combination of mechanical separation techniques, and enzymatic recycling.
Spain-based technological center Aimplas is addressing the issue of plastic waste, as multilayer plastic materials present a major challenge at the end of their life cycle due to the complexity of separating and processing their different components. This difficulty leads to lower recycling efficiency and increases the amount of waste ending up in landfills or incinerators. Using innovative technologies such as physicochemical delamination, a combination of mechanical separation techniques and enzymatic recycling, Aimplas was able to recycle multilayer waste, allowing it to be reintroduced into the value chain or used to produce new recycled plastic products. This work has been carried out within the framework of the RECIPLUS research project, funded by the Valencian Institute for Competitiveness and Innovation (IVACE+i) through ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) funds, the Spanish technological center gave account.
To separate and purify the different components of the multilayer structure, “we used chemical solvents under supercritical fluid pressure and temperature conditions, which allows us to reduce processing time and solvent usage,” Mireia Fernández, lead researcher in Chemical Recycling at Aimplas, explained. “The environmental impact is lower, and the separated components have higher purity.”
As part of this research, Aimplas also optimized existing separation technologies to increase efficiency based on the material mix obtained after delamination. This included various methods such as NIR (near-infrared) separation, airflow density separation, and triboelectric separation. “Once the different components of the multilayer material – PE, PET, and aluminum – are separated, they can be reintroduced into the value chain as recycled film, for example, thus closing the loop,” Mireia Fernández was quoted. Alternatively, they could be used separately in the production of plastic items. “With the recycled polyethylene, and after an additive process to modify its properties, we have manufactured plant pots as an example of circular economy in the plastics sector.”
Enzymatic recycling
In addition to physicochemical delamination, Aimplas has also addressed multilayer waste recycling through enzymatic delamination, which involves incorporating enzymes into the plastic material to enable its self-biodegradation. As reported, Acteco, a company specialized in comprehensive waste management, recovery and valorization, and Cebimat Lab, a spin-off from the Jaume I University dedicated to studying material biodegradation, have collaborated on this research.
(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 3/2025, Page 38, Photo: Aimplas)
