Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark expect DEMETO to combine both ecological and economic advantages
At the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), researchers are closely working together with DEMETO to optimize the process of PET chemical recycling. A research group specialized on the engineering of advanced chemical and biochemical processes is conducting basic tests to allow the complete recycling of PET at DEMETO’s industrial plant in Milan.
“The problem with PET plastic is that it can only be reused a certain number of times before it wears down. And the current method used for destroying it has a highly detrimental impact on the environment because it is either burnt or discarded in nature,” states Ioannis Skiadas, Associate Professor and researcher at the DTU Chemical Engineering. In an article of the university’s newspaper DTUavisen, he explains how DEMETO addresses the challenge of PET waste:
“By mixing new microwave technology with a well-known chemical reaction, a unique process has been created that makes it possible to reuse PET in a cost-effective manner and apply the recycling method industrially”. According to Ioannis Skiades this will have a positive impact on the environment. The treatment of difficult to recycle PET, allows for millions of tons of waste to re-enter the value chain.
In Skiades opinion, the real strength of the project lies in the combination of both ecological and economic incentives. Thanks to an innovative technology, the recycling process can be conducted time-efficiently which makes it profitable for industrial application – a win-win situation.
However, in order to reduce the energy consumption throughout the process, every step needs to be optimized. The research facilities and the technological know-how at the DTU provide the perfect environment to test the technology before the final launch of the DEMETO industrial plant.
To read the full article in English, click here.