TORWASH of Plastics
TORWASH technology enabling the true recycling of bio-degradable plastics
Hosted byThis project is now archived and was part of DDW20
This project is part of
Embassy of Rethinking Plastic
→
Embassy of Rethinking Plastic
Separated components after TORWASH
TORWASH® selectively removes PLA from objects, composites and mixed waste streams. It converts the polymer back its original components (lactic acid) while other materials are unaffected. The monomers can be used to make new virgin plastics.
TORWASH® is a development of TNO.
TORWASH® dissolves bio-degradable plastics like PLA in water by means of depolymerization. PLA becomes a lactic acid solution, while other plastics remain unaffected or they melt and solidify. Paper becomes pulp; metal does nothing. Lactic acid is simply
Schematic of Designed-for-TORWASH
Schematic of TORWASH at Festivals
Toy before (right) and after TORWASH (tube, left)
Separated materials from festival waste
