Plastic recycling represents a current challenge in materials and environmental research, with growing interest in the efficient management of multi-layer packaging such as Tetrapak-type beverage cartons
Tetrapak is a multi-layer packaging material used for packing beverages and food. It consists of approximately 75% paper (cellulose), 20% polyethylene, and 5% aluminium foil [2]. In industrial practice, mechanical recycling currently dominates, producing secondary materials such as construction boards. A more advanced recovery approach involves defibring the cellulose layer for paper recycling. The remaining polyethene–aluminium fraction is then mainly processed by material recycling, resulting in low-quality products used primarily in construction applications.
Among chemical recycling methods, pyrolysis is considered one of the most effective. A key advantage of pyrolysis is its ability to treat mixed or contaminated materials, such as multi-layer packaging. In the case of Tetrapak, pyrolysis allows aluminium to remain in the solid product, while most of the plastic is converted into hydrocarbon-rich pyrolysis oil. Process optimisation is necessary to maximise product yields and improve oil quality. This research aims to evaluate how reaction conditions affect the yields, composition, and properties of products obtained from Tetrapak pyrolysis. The objective is to obtain pyrolysis oil with the lowest possible final boiling point to enhance its suitability for steam cracking and monomer production [3]. The presentation will summarise the results leading to boiling range adjustment. The focus will be on the group composition of the pyrolysis oil as well as the concentration of key contaminants.