University at Buffalo Details Solvent Recycling for Sustainable Plastics Management

University at Buffalo researchers reviewed plastic recycling technologies, concluding that solvent-based recycling offers a sustainable and economical option, particularly for complex plastic films. Their analysis, published in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, highlights the potential of dissolving plastics with chemical solvents to separate polymers from contaminants. Artificial intelligence models, such as the PlasticNet sorting system, demonstrated classification accuracy exceeding 87%, aiding in improved materials separation, though the feasibility of biobased plastics remains uncertain due to land and water resource demands.

Emerging Technologies in Plastics Management

Solvent-based recycling represents a sustainable and economical option for processing complex plastic materials currently unsuitable for traditional methods, as it involves dissolving high-purity polymers within a plastic waste stream to remove contaminants. A study co-authored at the University of Wisconsin-Madison determined this method to be the most economical for recycling complex, multilayer plastic film used in coffee grounds packaging. Variations in the process, however, can significantly alter greenhouse gas emissions, with cooling methods for reforming dissolved polymers proving preferable to heating methods which generate comparatively more emissions.

Research detailed in the review article also summarises the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to plastics management, including the PlasticNet sorting model developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which achieved classification accuracy exceeding 87%, and reaching 100% on specific plastics. Other research teams have employed AI to analyse recycling technologies, utilising natural language processing models to extract relevant data from existing literature. AI models will also be necessary for addressing supply chain demands, encompassing transportation planning, stakeholder coordination, and policy evaluation, to optimise plastic recycling solutions.

The feasibility of biobased plastics, derived from agricultural crops such as sugar cane and corn, remains unclear due to their substantial demands for water and land resources, which directly compete with food production. Implementing biobased plastics would necessitate increased composting facilities and public infrastructure for separating these materials from traditional plastics. A comprehensive life cycle assessment—covering raw material extraction, production, disposal, and sorting—is essential before validating the use of biobased plastics as viable plastic recycling solutions.

Challenges and Future Directions for Sustainable Plastics

Currently, only 9% of plastic worldwide is recycled, with nearly three-quarters ending up in landfills or the environment due to waste mismanagement. The review article concludes that solvent-based recycling presents a sustainable and economical option, though replacing fossil-based plastics with biobased alternatives remains a significant challenge.

Despite the environmental impact of improperly disposed plastics—with an estimated 150 million tons accumulating in the ocean and potential health consequences including cancer, respiratory problems, and developmental delays—plastics remain crucial to modern life, serving essential functions in packaging, electronics, buildings, and textiles. They also offer environmental benefits, such as reducing food waste and improving vehicle fuel efficiency; eliminating plastics entirely is currently unviable, necessitating alternatives to current unsustainable management practices.

Combining solvent-based and traditional recycling is likely the most effective approach to plastics management. Future work in this field should prioritise systems-level analyses to address the complex, multiscale nature of the problem.

Implementing biobased plastics would necessitate increased composting facilities and public infrastructure for separating these plastics from traditional materials. A comprehensive life cycle assessment—from raw material extraction and production to disposal and sorting—is essential before validating biobased plastics.