000168464 001__ 168464
000168464 005__ 20260205155159.0
000168464 0247_ $$2doi$$a10.1016/j.fpsl.2025.101682
000168464 0248_ $$2sideral$$a147888
000168464 037__ $$aART-2026-147888
000168464 041__ $$aeng
000168464 100__ $$aJiménez Estremera, Carlos
000168464 245__ $$aSuper-Critical Fluid Extraction (SFE) with CO2 as decontamination step for recycling polyethylenes for food contact
000168464 260__ $$c2026
000168464 5060_ $$aAccess copy available to the general public$$fUnrestricted
000168464 5203_ $$aThe recycling of polyolefins remains a significant challenge in the context of food contact materials (FCM) due to contamination by both volatile and non-volatile compounds. Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide (CO2) has emerged as a promising technology for being included as an efficient step of decontamination or postconsumer polyolefins, ensuring their safety and quality for food contact applications. This study evaluates the capability of SFE to decontaminate postconsumer polyolefin-based materials, including multilayer polyethylene (PE) and polyamide 6,6 (PA-6,6) plastic bags, high density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, and post-consumer HDPE packaging, all previously in contact with food. A non-targeted analytical approach was applied using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to detect and semi-quantify contaminants before and after SFE treatment and a total of 121 compounds were detected in this non-target analysis. Among them, several common plastic additives and various food-derivative compounds, degradation or oxidation products of these additives were found. The results demonstrated up to 99 % decontamination efficiency for volatile compounds and 75 % for non-volatiles, based on the total concentration of compounds before and after the SFE process. These efficiencies highlight the potential of SFE as a critical step for enhancing the quality of recycled polyolefins. The study underscores the role of SFE in advancing the recyclability of polyolefins within the framework of a circular economy. By addressing contamination challenges—both chemical and structural—and enabling the safe reuse of materials in food contact applications, this technology contributes to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable material management.
Graphical Abstract
000168464 536__ $$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2021-128089OB-I00
000168464 540__ $$9info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess$$aby-nc-nd$$uhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es
000168464 655_4 $$ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/article$$vinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
000168464 700__ $$aLóbez, Silvia$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000168464 700__ $$aBelgharbi, Fallah$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000168464 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0001-9379-8047$$aMainar, Ana M.$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000168464 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0003-2685-5739$$aNerín, Cristina$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000168464 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-8765-4319$$aVera, Paula$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza
000168464 7102_ $$12009$$2750$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Química Analítica$$cÁrea Química Analítica
000168464 7102_ $$12012$$2755$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Química Física$$cÁrea Química Física
000168464 7102_ $$12009$$2X$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Química Analítica$$cProy. investigación HVA
000168464 773__ $$g53 (2026), 101682 [11 pp.]$$tFood Packaging and Shelf Life$$x2214-2894
000168464 8564_ $$s3992886$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/168464/files/texto_completo.pdf$$yVersión publicada
000168464 8564_ $$s2482826$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/168464/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon$$xicon$$yVersión publicada
000168464 909CO $$ooai:zaguan.unizar.es:168464$$particulos$$pdriver
000168464 951__ $$a2026-02-05-14:37:06
000168464 980__ $$aARTICLE