ODOUR AND EMISSIONS | ANALYSIS
Measures can be taken to reduce odours and emissions in both virgin and recycled plastics but the first step in the process is accurate detection and characterisation, writes Mark Holmes
Taking a check on odour
Increasing the use of recycled material in plastic compounds is essential in turning the emerging concept of a circular economy into reality. One of the obstacles to be overcome will be controlling emission and odours emitted from recycled plastic material. Enhanced recycling techniques, collection procedures and new additives are all providing new solutions to this challenge. However, detection and characterisation of specific odour causing substances is also vital in the successful re-use of recycled plastic materials in new compounds. The Department of Sensory Analytics of the
Fraunhofer IVV (Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging) in Germany is a leader in research into emissions and odours in plastics compounds. According to Fraunhofer IVV’s Dr Philipp Denk and Bianca Lok, new developments continue to be largely driven by regulation forcing a reduction in plastic waste together with a steadily growing public awareness of environmental pollution. As a result, new recycling strategies have to come into focus, they say. In terms of sustainability, the recently introduced European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Econo-
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my addresses not only the increase in the percent- age of recycled plastic packaging but also the quality of obtained recyclates necessary to meet the quality requirements for both industrial production processes as well as legal demands. As European plastic converting companies have stated that inadequate odour quality is one of the main problems for recyclate applications, improve- ments in odour is essential to ensure future applications for recycled plastic material and acquiring new markets.
Identifying challenges A survey — Polymer Comply Europe, Usage of recycled plastics materials by plastics converters in Europe — was carried out by the European plastics converters association EuPC in 2018 where 376 plastic converting companies identified impediments to using recycled plastics. Next to the poor reproducibility of process-relevant properties and insufficient mechanical properties, sensory- related problems were of central importance. In particular, the unwanted smell of the recyclates, as well as the off-odour of finished goods, was listed
March 2020 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 49
Main image: The need to use more recycled material is making identification and manage- ment of odour a top priority
IMAGE: FRAUNHOFER IVV
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