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Investigation into cross-contamination during cleaning efficiency testing in PET recycling

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  • Welle, Frank

Abstract

The cleaning efficiency of a PET recycling process is typically investigated by artificial contamination of post-consumer PET flakes within a so-called challenge test. Challenging of pilot plants or industrial scale lines is done be introducing a certain amount of contaminated flakes while running the process with non-contaminated flakes of different colour. After decontamination the contaminated flakes are separated from the non-contaminated flakes and only the contaminated flakes were analysed due to their residual contamination level. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), however, raised the question about cross-contamination, which might reduce the overall cleaning efficiency of the recycling process. Cross-contamination is defined as the transfer of surrogate contaminants from the initially contaminated to the initially not contaminated material during a challenge test. Data for the phenomenon of cross-contamination are not available in the scientific literature. Aim of the study was to close this gap by providing experimental data for cross-contamination by use of several challenge tests. As a result cross-contamination was found only at ratios of 1:1 between contaminated and non-contaminated PET flakes. At higher ratios which were typically applied in challenge tests on pilot plant or industrial scale line cross-contamination do not play a significant role. In addition, the results show that cross-contamination is negligible for volatile compounds.

Suggested Citation

  • Welle, Frank, 2016. "Investigation into cross-contamination during cleaning efficiency testing in PET recycling," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 65-72.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:112:y:2016:i:c:p:65-72
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.05.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Welle, Frank, 2011. "Twenty years of PET bottle to bottle recycling—An overview," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(11), pages 865-875.
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    Cited by:

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