Acid Digestion of Native and Post-Consumer LDPE for the Determination of Trace Elements with ICP-OES Analysis
Rotor 20SVT50 in Multiwave 5001 allows for reliable and quick digestion of post-consumer LDPE (low-density polyethylene) to ensure product safety and quality of recycled plastics.
The increasing use of recycled polymers in consumer and industrial products necessitates thorough characterization of recyclate quality. Impurities introduced during prior use cycles, additive packages, or mechanical wear during recycling processes can affect the physical and chemical properties of the final material. Therefore, reliable analytical workflows for elemental fingerprinting are essential to evaluate material consistency and application suitability.
Polyolefins like LDPE are chemically inert but highly reactive under oxidative digestion, often causing rapid pressure buildup due to their high organic content. Additives such as pigments and fillers can further complicate complete mineralization.
Multiwave 5001 with SmartVent technology provides a safe and efficient solution: pressure is released automatically, preventing vessel rupture and ensuring reproducible digestion even of reactive polymer samples. Combined with high temperature capacity and optional stirring, it is ideal for tackling complex recyclates.
This report highlights the chemical analysis of five recycled LDPE samples with a special focus on the distinctive profile of Sample V5. Herein, we describe the successful digestion of LDPE (native and post-consumer grades) on Multiwave 5001 with HVT50 vessels. The investigation reveals marked differences in color, elemental composition, and residue analysis, underlining the need for precise quality control in plastics recycling.
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