english What is the recycling process of Cotton Packaging Film
2025-05-24
Cotton Packaging Film Recycling Process
1
Collection and Sorting
Collected through industrial waste channels or consumer recycling programs
Sorted using NIR spectroscopy or manual inspection (texture/color identification)
Contaminant removal: adhesives, inks, foreign materials
Quality Note:
Effective sorting prevents degradation of recycled material quality, crucial for high-value applications
2
Cleaning and Degradation
Washing: Water + mild detergents remove dirt/oils (critical for food-contact applications)
Enzymatic treatment: Breaks down cotton fibers in blended films
Chemical solvents: Dissolve polymer layers while preserving cotton fibers
3
Material Separation
Mechanical pulping: Converts films into short fibers for nonwovens/paper
Polymer recovery: Melt filtration/solvent methods extract PLA/PHA
Technical Challenge:
Precise separation required to avoid cotton contamination in polymer streams (max 2-5% tolerance)
4
Regeneration and Reprocessing
Fiber repurposing: Spun into new yarns or blended with hemp/jute
Composite manufacturing: Combined with biopolymers (starch/cellulose)
Energy recovery: Anaerobic digestion/incineration (last resort)
5
Quality Control and Standards
Compliance with ASTM D6400 (compostability) and FDA guidelines
Performance testing: tensile strength, moisture resistance
End-use validation: Agricultural mulch, retail packaging, industrial wraps
