{
  "abstract": "Multilayer plastic films play a critical role in packaging, with each polymer layer contributing specific properties to the multilayer film. Multilayer plastic films are not currently recyclable due to the bound polymers. With multilayer film production of about 20 million metric tons in 2024 and rising, end-of-life treatment becomes pressing. This work presents a scalable solvent-based delamination recycling process that is applied to commercial postindustrial multimaterial films to unbind the materials within a multilayer film by dissolving only the adhesive layer and recover polyethylene (PE) as an intact solid film. Solvent-based delamination is a simple process that allows the complete recovery of materials and solvents used in the process. The delaminating solvent, 88% formic acid in water, induces delamination of PE/PEI/PET and PE/PU/PET films at 70 °C in under an hour. Recovered PE has no contamination detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mechanical properties on par with those of virgin resin. The recovery of high-quality solid PE film fit for reprocessing, at low operating temperatures and with closed-loop solvent reuse, promotes delamination as a low energy consumption and environmentally friendly recycling process. PE recovered from delamination can be reused in equivalent products, promoting circularity of multimaterial films.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering",
    "University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY)",
    "Engineered Materials Group, National Security Division",
    "Pacific Northwest National Laboratory",
    "Energy Processes and Materials Group, Energy and Environment Division"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jacob S. Licht",
      "orcid": "0009-0004-3242-2758"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Darrell D. Mayberry",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8705-4778"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Kumari Sushmita",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5773-0467"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Yelin Ni",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8323-3904"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jorge Ortiz Garcia"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Justin Olson"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jose L. Ramos",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6643-8695"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Kevin L. Simmons",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2429-6219"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Daniel R. Merkel",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8847-7430"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Marina Tsianou",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3340-627X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Paschalis Alexandridis",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6989-8232"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5erwr5zbbgdd5.bib",
  "cited_by": 5,
  "doi": "10.1021/acssuschemeng.6c01010",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "5erwr5zbbgdd5",
  "issns": [
    "2168-0485"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.6c01010",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2507|Polymer crystallization and properties"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7163996904",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13292398",
  "pmid": "42358386",
  "published": "2026-06-09",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5erwr5zbbgdd5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:27:01Z",
      "native_id": "W7163996904",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.6c01010"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2507|Polymer crystallization and properties",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Delamination of Multilayer Plastic Films to Recover Polyethylene with Favorable Mechanical Properties",
  "title_text": "Delamination of Multilayer Plastic Films to Recover Polyethylene with Favorable Mechanical Properties",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T13:20:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5erwr5zbbgdd5",
  "venue": "ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering",
  "versions": []
}