Title awarding university: Leibniz Universität Hannover

Cooperation: KraussMaffei Extrusion GmbH

Title of the doctoral project: Development of an analysis and recycling method for the production of plastic recyclates requiring approval

Short description of the doctoral project: Finite fossile resources and climate change show the importance of a careful handling of recyclable materials. This includes a working circular economy with a recycling system in which high-quality recyclates are obtained from plastic waste. For this reason, a special focus in the development of mechanical recycling methods is on the removal of contamination from plastic waste. All contamination must be reduced to such an extent that the use of recyclates does not pose a health risk to humans and all legal requirements are met. Especially in sensitive areas of application such as cosmetics packaging, toys and sports equipment, textiles or the food industry, the volatile and odour-active substances must be removed from the plastic in order to prevent a negative impact on the smell or taste of the food.

Therefore, within the scope of the dissertation, a recycling process for the production of plastic recyclates requiring approval is to be developed. Based on the adaptation and further development of analytical methods for evaluating process efficiency, methods for increasing recyclate quality are to be identified, developed and optimised.

The aim of the work is to develop a recycling method with which it is possible to produce a recyclate from a defined input stream of plastic waste that meets official and application-specific approval requirements.