Process Design for the Recycling Of Tetra Pak Components

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 126 - 129, 25.02.2017

Mustafa Karaboyacı

Abstract

The Tetra Pak packaging which was
originally designed and developed for milk is widely used in the packaging of
many foods and beverages. It is important to recycle and recovery of Tetra
Pak's due to the different types of recyclable materials included 75% paper,
20% polyethylene and 5% aluminum. There are serious problems in recycling of
composite beverage cartons that completed their lifetime and became a waste. A
larger part of this packaging waste is disposed in landfills. Therefore, our
priority should be performing scientific studies for management of this waste
and operating with appropriate management alternatives. In this study,
assessment methods and processes of waste composite drinks cartons are
researched, and an alternative way is shown which separately recovers cartons,
paper, aluminum and polyethylene. Tetra Pak films were cut into over 40 mm
pieces, and charged to the reactor with stirring with chloroform. Thus paper,
aluminum and polyethylene dissolves in chloroform. The resulting polyethylene
and solvent liquid was transferred to distillation unit. The mixture of
aluminum and paper remaining in the reactor was boiled and stirred until it
turns into a pulp. Filtration of water is ensured by waiting the pulp on the
fine sieve and the percentage of remaining solid is determined by analysis at
the end of this waiting period. Thus only aluminum is remaining in the reactor.
With the designed system, the waste amount of countries going to the solid
waste storage areas will decrease and the protection of our environment will be
provided. Tetrapak recovery will be a long-term economic investment. Recycling
sector will be a step more advanced. The study will also result in allowing new
technologies and reducing raw material needs.

Keywords

tetra pak, recycle, process design

References

• [1]. Abreu M., Recycling Tha Fibres On Tetra Pak Cartons. Tetra Pak Canada Inc. 2000.
• [2]. Pietikäinen, V., Collection and recycling of beverage cartons at AIT. Project report. 2008.
• [3]. Ayrılmış, N., Candan, Z., Hızıroğlu, S. “Physical And Mechanical Properties Od Cardboard Panels Made From Used Beverage Carton With Veneer”, Materials & Design, 29, 1897-1903. 2008
• [4]. Ayrılmış, N., Kaymakçı, A., Akbulut, T., Elmas, G. M. “Mechanical Performance Of Composites Based On Wastes Of Polyethylene Aluminum And Lignocellulosics” Composites: Part B, 47, 150-154.
• [5]. Tetra Pak Global Site. “Recycling And Recovery”. [Online]. Available:
• http://www.tetrapak.com/environment/recycling-and-recovery/aluminium-and-polyethylene,
• [6]. Korkmaz, A., Yanık, J., Brebu, M., Vasile, C. “Pyrolysis Of The Tetra Pak”, Waste Management, 29, 2836-2841. 2009.