Dissolution of plastics and biobased molecules for recycling

Dissolution allows recycling, purification and separation of biological as well as synthetic polymers. Through dissolution, plastic feedstock may be separated from hazardous substances which makes them suitable for mechanical recycling. With the same method cotton, wood pulp, or wool may be dissolved and formed into new fibres.

Dissolution is a recycling method which has the potential to recycle polymers without a loss of quality. Dissolution under ideal circumstances dissolves the polymer chains without degrading them, which allows for recycling in an energy efficient manner.

At RISE we have a long experience of dissolution of polymers, primarily of biological polymers. Our equipment can be modelled based on your feedstock, the solvent system and the amount of sample. The obtained polymer solution is suitable for use in fiber spinning and production of nonwoven materials.

Dissolution is also suitable for synthetic polymers where, as an alternative, the by dissolution purified polymer could be precipitated and thermo-mechanically reprocessed. Contact us if you are interested to validate your feedstock in a specific solvent system.