Toxicological Threshold Risk Scoring for Non-Intentionally Added Substances in Recycled Polymers
Toxicological threshold scoring maps unidentified polymer migrates to Cramer exposure limits, mandating genotoxic screening below 0.00015 mg/kg food.
Post-Consumer Resin Decontamination
Meaning
Series of mechanical and thermal processes designed to remove impurities and hazardous substances from plastic collected from households. Post-consumer resin decontamination transforms mixed waste into a high-purity material suitable for new products. It involves washing and vacuum treatment to meet the strict standards required for food contact applications.
Contaminant Extraction
Removing old food remains or cleaning chemicals requires more than a simple water wash. The post-consumer resin decontamination process uses high temperatures and low pressure to pull absorbed molecules out of the plastic flakes.
Food Safety
Materials intended for packaging food must reach a high level of purity to prevent the migration of toxins. A validated post-consumer resin decontamination system provides the proof needed to satisfy health authorities that the recycled plastic is safe for use.
Process Step
Sorting and grinding the waste is only the beginning of the journey toward a circular material. After the initial cleaning, the post-consumer resin decontamination stage ensures that the polymer is free from the odors and residues that would otherwise limit its reuse. This step is the most energy-intensive part of the recycling process but is necessary for creating a product that can compete with virgin resins in the open market.