4. Conclusions
In the present study, a separation process using industrial solvents
was developed to separate and recover polyethylene from
multilayer postconsumer aseptic packaging. Non-polar solvents
showed more efficiency in the recovery process of PE films from
PE–Al composites using a polymer dissolving as key step in the
recovery strategy. This efficiency can reach 56% under xylene
reflux conditions. The recovered PE films presented good thermal
properties which indicate high purity. The recovery process proposed
displays an alternative solution to the multilayer solid waste
problem. The showed experiments represent a departure point for
future studies with the objective to increase the yield of the
recovery process and to study the remnant PE–Al mixtures. These
characteristics suggest that this proposal will enjoy widespread
application.