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Impact and Lifecycle of New Barrier Polymer in Beverage Carton Recycling: A Lab-Scale Experimental Study

Dursun, Oguzhan LU (2025) MTTM01 20251
Packaging Logistics
Abstract
The growing emphasis on sustainable packaging and increasing regulatory pressures on recyclability have driven the need for alternative barrier materials in multilayer beverage cartons. This study investigates the recycling behavior of a water-soluble polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), used as a barrier layer in beverage cartons. A lab-scale experimental setup was designed to simulate industrial recycling conditions and evaluate the solubility, detectability, and potential quantification of PVOH during the hydrapulping process. Methods including UV-Visspectrophotometry, FT-IR spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were employed to monitor the polymer’s behavior in both aqueous and solid fractions. A colorimetric method... (More)
The growing emphasis on sustainable packaging and increasing regulatory pressures on recyclability have driven the need for alternative barrier materials in multilayer beverage cartons. This study investigates the recycling behavior of a water-soluble polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), used as a barrier layer in beverage cartons. A lab-scale experimental setup was designed to simulate industrial recycling conditions and evaluate the solubility, detectability, and potential quantification of PVOH during the hydrapulping process. Methods including UV-Visspectrophotometry, FT-IR spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were employed to monitor the polymer’s behavior in both aqueous and solid fractions. A colorimetric method based on iodine complexation was optimized for PVOH quantification. While enzymatic and acid hydrolysis were not implemented in this study, they are proposed as potential future strategies to correct for starch interference, alongside a dual-wavelength technique. Subsystem tests revealed that temperature and film thickness influence PVOH solubility and diffusion dynamics. CEPI-based recyclability trials confirmed partial migration of PVOH into process water, highlighting the importance of robust detection protocols. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how water-soluble barrier polymers behave during recycling. This knowledge may inform future material design and support the development of standardization efforts for recyclable multilayer packaging. (Less)
Popular Abstract
Have you ever tossed a juice box into the recycling bin and wondered if it really gets recycled? Most people don’t realize that these cartons are made of layered materials: paper for strength, plastic for waterproofing, and aluminum to block light and oxygen. This design keeps drinks fresh but makes recycling complex. To address this, companies are exploring smarter, more sustainable materials. One promising option is polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), a plastic that dissolves in water and can biodegrade. It sounds ideal, but does it work in real recycling systems?

To find out, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, along with chemical and gravimetric tests, was used to examine how PVOH behaves, whether it fully dissolves or which part of the recycling... (More)
Have you ever tossed a juice box into the recycling bin and wondered if it really gets recycled? Most people don’t realize that these cartons are made of layered materials: paper for strength, plastic for waterproofing, and aluminum to block light and oxygen. This design keeps drinks fresh but makes recycling complex. To address this, companies are exploring smarter, more sustainable materials. One promising option is polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), a plastic that dissolves in water and can biodegrade. It sounds ideal, but does it work in real recycling systems?

To find out, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, along with chemical and gravimetric tests, was used to examine how PVOH behaves, whether it fully dissolves or which part of the recycling stream it ends up in. Results showed that while PVOH does dissolve, its effectiveness depends on how it is applied; thicker layers or cooler conditions tend to leave more residue. Detecting PVOH in recycling water was another challenge. A colorimetric test using iodine, where PVOH turns blue, was adapted for better sensitivity. But additives like starch also react with iodine. To improve accuracy, techniques like heat treatment, enzyme use, and mathematical corrections were introduced.

These findings support the shift toward more recyclable packaging. By understanding how materials behave in recycling, both designers and recyclers can make smarter choices, bringing us closer to a truly circular, sustainable system. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dursun, Oguzhan LU
supervisor
organization
course
MTTM01 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
polyvinyl alcohol, beverage carton, recyclability, barrier polymer, PVOH, UV-Vis spectroscopy
language
English
id
9202933
date added to LUP
2025-06-19 12:25:45
date last changed
2025-06-26 14:31:33
@misc{9202933,
  abstract     = {{The growing emphasis on sustainable packaging and increasing regulatory pressures on recyclability have driven the need for alternative barrier materials in multilayer beverage cartons. This study investigates the recycling behavior of a water-soluble polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), used as a barrier layer in beverage cartons. A lab-scale experimental setup was designed to simulate industrial recycling conditions and evaluate the solubility, detectability, and potential quantification of PVOH during the hydrapulping process. Methods including UV-Visspectrophotometry, FT-IR spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were employed to monitor the polymer’s behavior in both aqueous and solid fractions. A colorimetric method based on iodine complexation was optimized for PVOH quantification. While enzymatic and acid hydrolysis were not implemented in this study, they are proposed as potential future strategies to correct for starch interference, alongside a dual-wavelength technique. Subsystem tests revealed that temperature and film thickness influence PVOH solubility and diffusion dynamics. CEPI-based recyclability trials confirmed partial migration of PVOH into process water, highlighting the importance of robust detection protocols. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how water-soluble barrier polymers behave during recycling. This knowledge may inform future material design and support the development of standardization efforts for recyclable multilayer packaging.}},
  author       = {{Dursun, Oguzhan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Impact and Lifecycle of New Barrier Polymer in Beverage Carton Recycling: A Lab-Scale Experimental Study}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}