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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Greifswald, 15 April 2025 - The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is developing an innovative method for the sustainable recycling of glass fibre reinforced plastics (GRP) as part of the PLAS4PLAS joint project. In cooperation with the Institute for Environment & Energy, Technology & Analytics e.V. (IUTA) and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the research team is working on an emission-free and residue-free recycling process based on thermal plasma. The project, which will run until 2029, is being funded by the Volkswagen Foundation with 1.37 million euros.
Challenge: Complex GRP waste
GRP is widely used in aviation, vehicle construction and wind turbines. Their composite of plastic and glass fibres makes recycling extremely difficult. "Until now, major part of GRP waste has ended up in landfill sites or has been used as filler or fuel - with negative environmental consequences such as CO₂ emissions and the release of pollutants," explains Dr Diego Gonzalez, project manager at the INP.
Sustainable solution through plasma technology
The planned process is based on an allothermal gasification process in which thermal plasma is used. In this process, the working gas is heated to several thousand degrees Celsius and serves as an extremely hot medium that breaks down the plastic into its components. In contrast to conventional incineration, the required heat is supplied from the outside so that the plastic is gently converted into syngas, which serves as a raw material for the production of new plastics.
At the same time, the suitability of the remaining glass content for the manufacture of other products is being investigated, as well as the possibility of recovering other elements contained in the glass through process adjustments. "In this way, we want to create a genuine circular economy that significantly reduces raw material consumption and CO₂ emissions," says Dr Gonzalez.
Technical feasibility, scaling and acceptance
A central goal of the project is to optimise thermal plasma technologies for the specific requirements of GRP waste. The recycling process will be evaluated both ecologically and economically in order to ensure its sustainability and efficiency. In addition, the technical basis for scaling up the process and developing a large-scale GRP gasification reactor is being developed.
In addition to the technical implementation, the project is also investigating the long-term effects of plasma technology on the supply of raw materials for fibre-reinforced plastics. The extent to which the process influences existing branches of industry such as the chemical industry, GRP production and metal processing is being analysed. At the same time, social acceptance plays a decisive role: the extent to which the recycling process is accepted by industry and society and what conditions need to be created for widespread implementation will be analysed.
"As an institute, we feel committed to tackling the major challenges facing society, especially in the environmental sector, " says Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, CEO and Scientific Director of INP. "With projects like PLAS4PLAS, we want to make a targeted contribution to a sustainable and resource-efficient future. Our focus is always on the technical feasibility of plasma-based processes."
About INP
The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology e.V. (INP) is one of the leading research institutions for low-temperature plasmas and their technical applications. In interdisciplinary teams, scientists develop sustainable solutions for the environment, energy, materials science and medicine.
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Thermal plasma in use: The process uses a working gas heated to several thousand degrees to gasify w ...
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