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Identification of the Compounds Used in Waste Bottle Caps Using Terahertz Radiation for Sustainable Resource Recycling to Benefit International Cooperation

Author

Listed:
  • Gaku Manago

    (Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 9808576, Japan)

  • Kazuaki Okubo

    (Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 9808576, Japan)

  • Jeongsoo Yu

    (Graduate School of International Cultural Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai 9808576, Japan)

  • Tadao Tanabe

    (Department of Engineering and Design, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo 1358548, Japan)

  • Tetsuo Sasaki

    (Graduate School of Medical Photonics, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 4328011, Japan)

Abstract

In Japan, when people take their waste bottle caps to designated recycling companies, JPY 5/kg is donated to developing countries for polio vaccine dissemination activities. The waste volume of plastic bottles and caps is increasing every year, and there is not a day that goes by that we do not see more bottles and caps. PET bottles are more easily recycled, as the bottle body is made of a single material. However, bottle caps are made of two different materials (PP and PE), which are difficult to identify perfectly when utilising the existing NIR technology in the recycling field. This is because the designs and colours of PP and PE bottle caps are becoming more diverse, with black and dark-coloured caps being difficult to sort using NIR technology. In addition, their specific gravity is almost the same; therefore, it is difficult to separate them by their water-based specific gravity, which is an approach commonly used by recyclers. Unidentified caps are sent for thermal recycling, which runs counter to the need for decarbonisation. They may also be mixed with identified caps and sold as recycled raw material, resulting in a reduction in the purity of the recycled plastic. If PP and PE caps can be identified using simple technology, it is expected to promote high resource recycling. Therefore, in order to develop such a sorting process, this study proposes a new method for the material identification of waste caps using terahertz waves. Therefore, this research aims to identify a new identification method for waste plastic caps, which has been a challenge both domestically and internationally. Specifically, we describe the limitations of the conventional methods for identifying PP and PE bottle caps according to their weight, specific gravity, and melting point and propose an identification method using terahertz waves, demonstrating its measurement-related merits and high identification accuracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaku Manago & Kazuaki Okubo & Jeongsoo Yu & Tadao Tanabe & Tetsuo Sasaki, 2024. "Identification of the Compounds Used in Waste Bottle Caps Using Terahertz Radiation for Sustainable Resource Recycling to Benefit International Cooperation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:24:p:10864-:d:1541682
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wisam Abu Jadayil & Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed Qureshi & Rahaf Ajaj & Eman Aqil & Ghada Shawahin & Hamna Anver & Safa Aljeawi, 2022. "An Empirical Investigation on Plastic Waste Issues and Plastic Disposal Strategies to Protect the Environment: A UAE Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Chaukura, Nhamo & Gwenzi, Willis & Bunhu, Tavengwa & Ruziwa, Deborah T. & Pumure, Innocent, 2016. "Potential uses and value-added products derived from waste polystyrene in developing countries: A review," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 157-165.
    3. Williams, Paul T. & Slaney, Edward, 2007. "Analysis of products from the pyrolysis and liquefaction of single plastics and waste plastic mixtures," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 754-769.
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