Date of Award
2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering
Department
Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering
First Advisor
Manbir Sodhi
Abstract
Microplastic pollution is now everywhere, from the highest elevation of Mount Everest to the deepest dives of the Mariana Trench. The use of synthetic polymers has contributed to the transformation of our modern world. Nonetheless, the growing presence of plastics in the natural environment constitutes a sense of urgency to develop sustainable solutions to address the global plastic pollution crisis. Approximately 80 percent of all the plastics ever produced have been discarded. Our relationship with plastic needs rethinking.
Achieving a circular economy requires a holistic approach to redesign the systems that make, use and reuse plastics. Evaluating the life cycle of plastic products is key to effective advancements in the collection, separation and sorting systems of mixed plastic waste streams. This thesis critically reviews bulk recycling methods used in industry. Recycling provides significant opportunities for recovering material resources through mechanical and/or chemical processes, which in return reduces petrochemical usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and the quantity of waste requiring disposal. Yet, recovering the resource value of mixed plastic waste streams presents critical challenges in materials identification and recycling process design.
Bulk recycling models consider the selection of the best sequence for isolating target materials from a mixed material stream. This thesis models the separation of single and multiple target materials using density separation techniques to minimize the total processing volume and cost. Furthermore, a selection algorithm is implemented to calculate the processing costs of each pass, determine the minimum cost of separation, and present the optimal separation sequence.
Recommended Citation
St. Hilaire, Megan Lee, "Bulk Recycling: Density Separation Models for Mixed Plastic Waste" (2022). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2261.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2261
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