A Tiered Multi-Technique Decision-Support Framework for Contaminant Screening and Recycling-Route Assignment of Mixed Plastic Waste.
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| Title: | A Tiered Multi-Technique Decision-Support Framework for Contaminant Screening and Recycling-Route Assignment of Mixed Plastic Waste. |
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| Authors: | Chen, Aiping1 (AUTHOR), Saxena, Saumitra1,2 (AUTHOR) saumitra.saxena@kaust.edu.sa, Samaras, Vasilios G.1,2 (AUTHOR), Dally, Bassam1,2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Polymers (20734360). May2026, Vol. 18 Issue 10, p1256. 33p. |
| Subjects: | Decision support systems, Waste recycling, Polyolefins, Plastic scrap, Metal toxicology, Thermal stability, Analytical chemistry |
| Abstract: | Recyclers worldwide face a common bottleneck: incoming mixed plastic bales are chemically opaque, yet the choice between mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and energy recovery hinges on contaminant levels that cannot be judged by visual inspection alone. This study develops and validates a tiered analytical decision-support framework that translates standard laboratory measurements into explicit, actionable go/no-go routing criteria for any mixed polyolefin waste stream. The framework is organized into three successive analytical tiers of increasing specificity: Tier 1 uses FTIR and DSC for rapid polymer identification and thermal subclass confirmation; Tier 2 applies TGA/DTG for thermal stability assessment and filler quantification; and Tier 3 deploys ICP-OES, WD-XRF, CIC, and TG–MS for targeted heavy metal, halogen, and evolved gas profiling, triggered only when Tier 1/2 flags are raised. This staged logic minimizes unnecessary testing while ensuring that contaminant-relevant information is captured where it matters. The framework is demonstrated on nine blind mixed plastic waste streams (P1–P9) supplied by an industrial recycling facility without prior disclosure of polymer identity, filler content, or additive history—conditions that replicate the uncertainty encountered at any sorting plant globally. Application of the tiered protocol identified dominant polymers (HDPE, LDPE, PP), quantified inorganic fillers (CaCO3 up to ~38 wt%), and detected hazardous contaminants, including chlorine (up to ~1900 ppm), lead, chromium, and titanium, enabling each stream to be assigned to a specific recycling route with defined contaminant thresholds. Because the method relies exclusively on commercially available, vendor-independent instrumentation and follows a reproducible, rule-based decision logic, it is directly transferable to recycling facilities in any geographic context without site-specific calibration. The proposed framework thus provides a practical, scalable decision-support tool for feedstock-level quality control under emerging regulations such as the UNEP Global Plastics Treaty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194117857 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: A Tiered Multi-Technique Decision-Support Framework for Contaminant Screening and Recycling-Route Assignment of Mixed Plastic Waste. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Aiping%22">Chen, Aiping</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Saxena%2C+Saumitra%22">Saxena, Saumitra</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> saumitra.saxena@kaust.edu.sa</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Samaras%2C+Vasilios+G%2E%22">Samaras, Vasilios G.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dally%2C+Bassam%22">Dally, Bassam</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Polymers+%2820734360%29%22">Polymers (20734360)</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 18 Issue 10, p1256. 33p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+support+systems%22">Decision support systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Waste+recycling%22">Waste recycling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polyolefins%22">Polyolefins</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plastic+scrap%22">Plastic scrap</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metal+toxicology%22">Metal toxicology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+stability%22">Thermal stability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Analytical+chemistry%22">Analytical chemistry</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Recyclers worldwide face a common bottleneck: incoming mixed plastic bales are chemically opaque, yet the choice between mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and energy recovery hinges on contaminant levels that cannot be judged by visual inspection alone. This study develops and validates a tiered analytical decision-support framework that translates standard laboratory measurements into explicit, actionable go/no-go routing criteria for any mixed polyolefin waste stream. The framework is organized into three successive analytical tiers of increasing specificity: Tier 1 uses FTIR and DSC for rapid polymer identification and thermal subclass confirmation; Tier 2 applies TGA/DTG for thermal stability assessment and filler quantification; and Tier 3 deploys ICP-OES, WD-XRF, CIC, and TG–MS for targeted heavy metal, halogen, and evolved gas profiling, triggered only when Tier 1/2 flags are raised. This staged logic minimizes unnecessary testing while ensuring that contaminant-relevant information is captured where it matters. The framework is demonstrated on nine blind mixed plastic waste streams (P1–P9) supplied by an industrial recycling facility without prior disclosure of polymer identity, filler content, or additive history—conditions that replicate the uncertainty encountered at any sorting plant globally. Application of the tiered protocol identified dominant polymers (HDPE, LDPE, PP), quantified inorganic fillers (CaCO3 up to ~38 wt%), and detected hazardous contaminants, including chlorine (up to ~1900 ppm), lead, chromium, and titanium, enabling each stream to be assigned to a specific recycling route with defined contaminant thresholds. Because the method relies exclusively on commercially available, vendor-independent instrumentation and follows a reproducible, rule-based decision logic, it is directly transferable to recycling facilities in any geographic context without site-specific calibration. The proposed framework thus provides a practical, scalable decision-support tool for feedstock-level quality control under emerging regulations such as the UNEP Global Plastics Treaty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/polym18101256 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 33 StartPage: 1256 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Decision support systems Type: general – SubjectFull: Waste recycling Type: general – SubjectFull: Polyolefins Type: general – SubjectFull: Plastic scrap Type: general – SubjectFull: Metal toxicology Type: general – SubjectFull: Thermal stability Type: general – SubjectFull: Analytical chemistry Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: A Tiered Multi-Technique Decision-Support Framework for Contaminant Screening and Recycling-Route Assignment of Mixed Plastic Waste. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Chen, Aiping – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Saxena, Saumitra – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Samaras, Vasilios G. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Dally, Bassam IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 15 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20734360 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 18 – Type: issue Value: 10 Titles: – TitleFull: Polymers (20734360) Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
