QUALITY | PROCESSING


being carried out with the aim of enabling a comparative and standardised evaluation of recycling processes in relation to odorant depletion. The method is to be further expanded in the future to cover various industrial challenges and scales, as well as additional material streams. Other activities involve the characterisation and optimisation of odour scavengers, while significant progress is also being made on the development of efficient methods for predicting odour properties based on analytical data. The Smart Odour Assessment approach, which was developed at Fraunhofer IVV and has been demonstrated within the KIOptiPack project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), combines human sensory and instrumental analytical information using complex data processing algorithms, and aims to support the assessment of various quality parameters, including odour. LyondellBasell is attempting to tackle quality


control at source through heavy investment in its research and development (R&D) capabilities. One example is its innovation centre in Frankfurt, Germany, where the company is strengthening its efforts in the development of advanced sorting, decontamination, and compounding technologies, as well as enhanced analytics of PCR. “With the ability to process several hundred


kilograms of test material, sorted by plastic type and colour and combining this with options for decontamination, extrusion and degassing, this facility marks a key milestone in developing our technologies under near-industrial conditions,” said Ulf Schüller, head of Process Technology Development Frankfurt.


Investments include the installation of a new


flake sorter, innovative new decontamination steps, downstream degassing, and purification units, which will enable the company to develop more


consistent and higher quality end-products for its customers with in-depth analytics again playing a crucial role.


Packaging project CosPaTox – short for Cosmetics, Packaging and Toxicology – is a European consortium that has developed voluntary safety guidelines for PCR plastics in cosmetic and household packaging, which include robust testing methodologies. Examples of analytical methods used to evaluate recycled materials include: GC-MS for identifying and quantifying trace organic contaminants; Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for detecting heavy metals; and High- Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for analysing additives and degradation products. These techniques help ensure that recycled materials meet stringent safety requirements, particularly for sensitive applications. “Smart recycling begins with smart analytics,” said Diana Doetsch, R&D Lead Polymer Physics & Characterisation. “Through continuous research and cutting-edge technology, we can meet our customers’ expectations and drive the future of recycling, ensuring recyclates are free from hazardous substances.” At K 2025, Erema expanded its PredictOn:Drive digital solution with more detailed data analysis and the new PredictOn:Plastification tool, which records changes in the plasticising unit allowing their causes to be rectified immediately. PredictOn provides instructions on recommended maintenance tasks, supported in part by video tutorials, with visualisation of the process fully integrated into the HMI and the BluPort digital customer platform. During the show, PredictOn was displayed live in action on an Intarema TVEplus DuaFil Compact, processing different input materials. PredictOn:Drive monitors the main drive trains


on the preconditioning unit and the extruder, as well as the vacuum pump status on PET systems. The new in-depth data analysis option makes the


www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com November/December 2025 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 25


Above: PredictOn: Drive monitors the main drive trains on Erema’s pre- conditioning unit and extruder


Left: Lyondell- Basell’s in-house analytics team at the


company’s headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, is advancing trace analysis


IMAGE: EREMA


IMAGE: LYB


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