Techno‐Economic Comparison of Bio‐Cycling Processes for Mixed Plastic Waste Valorization
Rafael A. Reifsteck, Song Zhai, Marcel Gausmann, Hendrik Ballerstedt, Till Tiso, Lars M. Blank, Andreas Jupke
Abstract
Abstract Mixed plastic waste is challenging for any recycling process. Here, an enzymatic recycling process is compared with a biotechnological upcycling process for valorizing mixed plastic waste constituted by PLA, PET, and PP. Both process routes are modeled in Aspen Plus, analyzed for bottlenecks, cost drivers, and sensitivity regarding enzymatic and microbial performance. While enzymatic recycling is only viable for uniform plastic feedstock, biotechnological upcycling operating at optimized process conditions reveals the potential to produce carbon‐neutral succinic acid from mixed plastic waste.
Topics & Concepts
Plastic wasteRaw materialWaste managementProcess (computing)Waste paperCarbon fibersMixed wasteMunicipal solid wasteMaterials sciencePulp and paper industryEnvironmental scienceChemistryEngineeringHazardous wasteComputer scienceComposite materialOrganic chemistryOperating systemComposite numberbiodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesMicroplastics and Plastic PollutionBioeconomy and Sustainability Development