POLYSOLVE - An EU Project for EPS and PC Recycling

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Polycarbonate (PC) are two common polymer types and of course can be recycled. However, the recycling streams for these two polymers are perhaps not as fully developed as for other polymer types.

The POLYSOLVE project will develop a new and novel process by which an environmentally friendly and selective solvent is used to dissolve and recycle EPS and PC waste into a high purity product comparable to that of virgin material.

A novel thermoplastic recovery system will be developed and integrated within a modular, scalable recycling process.

It is expected that this process can be extended to other thermoplastic types.

The POLYSOLVE project will also expand the high value market for recycled polymers and help European SME recyclers develop new and novel techniques, in the face of increased competition from Asia and the Far East.

The POLYSOLVE Consortium brings together a number of industry experts from across Europe, kindly supported by the European Union's Seventh Frameworth Programme.