Sectors

Recyclers

ITENE has a wide experience in research projects on waste recovery and in the development of recycling technologies that it puts at the service of companies.

Since 2019, more than 10 management and recycling processes have been developed by the technical area of our technology centre.
This expertise allows us to work on new initiatives to provide solutions for the different stages that waste goes through during its recovery.

laboratorio biotecnología
planta reciclado
Residuos naranja, romanescu y FORSU

Plastic waste recycling technologies

Plástico procesado en extrusora

Waste pre-treatment

We apply different pre-treatment techniques to determine the possibilities of waste recovery, as well as to determine the sustainability of the whole process. To this end, we carry out a physical and chemical characterisation of the waste prior to its study.

In addition, we implement processes for shredding and elimination of impurities present in the waste, as well as the drying of materials prior to their recovery.

Mechanical recycling

    • Decontamination and elimination of dyes and odours from post-consumer plastics: We work on the implementation of processes for the elimination of contaminants – dyes, odours or VOCs (volatile organic compounds) – and, therefore, for the incorporation of recycled materials in new applications with high added value.
    • Delamination of multilayer structures from plastic packaging waste to obtain monomers and oligomers for subsequent polymerisation into recycled plastics.

Chemical recycling

We develop processes with which products of interest to the plastics and chemical industry are obtained:

  • We develop processes with which products of interest to the plastics and chemical industry are obtained.
  • Purification by selective dissolution of a target layer (adhesives, barrier layer or ink layer) or by Extraction with s-CO2.
  • Chemical depolymerisation by solvolysis.
  • Heat treatment by pyrolysis, gasification or thermal hydrotreating.

Enzymatic recycling

We work on the recycling and elimination of plastics with the greatest environmental impact, thus improving the value chain, thanks to the use of enzymes, insects and microorganisms. With the technologies we work with at ITENE, we achieve polymer degradation without generating waste for humans or the environment.

Poliolefina postconsumo tras proceso de descontaminación

Enzymatic recycling for plastics and organic waste

  • We work on the recycling and elimination of plastics, thus improving the value chain, thanks to the use of enzymes, insects and microorganisms.  With the technologies we work with at ITENE, we achieve polymer degradation without generating waste for humans or the environment.
  • Biorecycling also allows the treatment of organic waste of urban origin or agricultural by-products that can be used to obtain new bioproducts.

State-of-the-art facilities

We have a pilot recycling plant in which the following can be carried out

  • Simulation of the operating conditions for the recovery of cellulosic and plastic waste on a pilot scale.
  • Removal of impurities and metallic residues.
  • Size reduction and conditioning of packaging waste to obtain flakes.
  • Removal of contaminants, organic matter residues and drying of plastic flakes.

We also have an industrial biotechnology laboratory where work is carried out on

  • processes and technologies for the enzymatic recycling of plastic materials through the application of microorganisms or enzymes.
  • recovery of bio-waste of urban origin (FORSU, organic fraction of solid urban waste) and of agri-food and industrial origin.