Highlights from the presentation and booth at the National Polymer Recycling Conference
Thomas Simonelli from Michelin and Axelle Champion from IFTH delivered an outstanding presentation on the WhiteCycle project to an audience of 250 attendees during the textile recycling session on Tuesday, November 5.
The presentation showcased the WhiteCycle project as an ambitious initiative, with significant progress made across key stages during the first 18 months: macro-sorting identification and fiber/matrix separation in WP1,amorphization in WP2, enzymatic depolymerization and purification in WP3, and polymerization in WP4.
Considerable strides were made during this period. First, our focuswas on macro-sorting identification to detect the presence of PolyethyleneTerephthalate (PET) in streams of clothing (WP1). Through extensive research,we evaluated various PET detection technologies and identified a particularly promising solution. A key milestone was the development of a real-time monitoring system, which successfully detects garments containing PET—even within multilayered fabrics.
IFTH presented promising initial trials that have laid the groundwork for advancing to the next phase of the project, where we aim toscale the technology from TRL 5 to TRL 6-8. Additionally, TRL 5 was achievedfor the shaping process, an essential step in removing challenging elements,such as metallic pieces.
At the same time, efforts were directed towards fiber and matrix separation in tires and hoses by upscaling the electrostatic process (WP1). This process is vital for separating fibers from rubber components, enabling us to tailor subsequent steps to the unique properties of each material. Initially conducted in batch mode at a laboratory scale, this process was successfully transitioned to continuous mode, leading to the establishment of a true pilot step. While substantial progress has been made, further testing and refinement are ongoing to optimize performance.
WhiteCycle hosted a booth in the showroom area, providing anexcellent opportunity to showcase the project, connect with participants,answer questions, and distribute project flyers. This engagement helped attract new subscribers and visitors to the project’s website.
