Mechanical Recycling Vs Chemical Recycling Of Plastics

Plastic waste has become a significant concern globally, and it's essential to find effective ways to manage it. Recycling is one of the methods that many people have adopted to manage plastic waste. Mechanical recycling and chemical recycling are two methods that have proved to be effective in recycling plastics. In this blog post, we will compare mechanical recycling vs chemical recycling of plastics, highlighting their differences and benefits.

Mechanical Recycling

Mechanical recycling is the process of recovering plastic waste by grinding or melting and reshaping it into new products. This method is ideal for low-grade plastics such as PET bottles, milk jugs, and other similar products. During the mechanical recycling process, the plastic waste is cleaned, shredded into small pieces, and melted before being reshaped into new products. The process of mechanical recycling is relatively simple, cost-efficient, and results in new products that have similar properties to the original products.

However, mechanical recycling has its limitations. The process can only be used to recycle low-grade plastics, and each subsequent cycle of mechanical recycling results in a reduction in the quality of the plastic. It can only be repeated a few times before the materials become unusable, and the process consumes a lot of energy.

Chemical Recycling

Chemical recycling, also known as feedstock recycling, is the process of breaking down plastic waste into its constituent monomers, which can later be used to produce new plastics. This process involves the use of heat or solvents to break down the plastic waste into its building blocks. The resulting monomers can then be used to produce new plastics of similar or even higher quality than the original product.

Unlike mechanical recycling, chemical recycling doesn't have limitations on the type of plastics that can be recycled. It can recycle a more extensive range of plastics, including those that are not recyclable by mechanical recycling. Moreover, the quality of the plastic is not degraded during the process. This means that the feedstock recycling process can be repeated many times without a considerable reduction in the quality of the plastic.

However, chemical recycling also has its limitations. The process is relatively expensive compared to mechanical recycling, and it requires specialized equipment and expertise to carry out. Additionally, the process can only be used on a limited scale due to the availability of suitable feedstocks.

Comparison

Conclusion

In conclusion, both mechanical recycling and chemical recycling are effective methods of recycling plastics. Mechanical recycling is ideal for low-grade plastics, while chemical recycling can handle a more extensive range of plastics. Both methods have their benefits and limitations, and the choice of the method will depend on the type of plastic to be recycled, the cost, and the availability of feedstock.

Recycling plastics is essential, but it is important to reduce the generation of plastic waste by adopting sustainable practices such as reducing, reusing and recycling plastic products.

References

1. Abdelrahman, H., Farooq, A., & Pandey, G. (2021). Chemical and Mechanical Recycling of Plastics - A Comprehensive Review. Polymers, 13(16), 2608. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162608
2. Torres-Giner, S., Gimenez, E., & Lagaron, J. M. (2017). Biodegradable and sustainable fibres by green electrospinning from cellulose acetate and cyclodextrin complexes. Green Chemistry, 19(23), 5622-5632. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7gc02127a
3. Mehnert, G., & Park, J. (2021). Advancements in Chemical Recycling of Plastics Toward a Circular Economy. In Sustainability (Vol. 13, Issue 8, p. 4179). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084179