Open AccessSafety assessment of the process Roxane Nord, based on VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐leaN) technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
Author(s) -
Lambré Claude,
Barat Baviera José Manuel,
Bolognesi Claudia,
Chesson Andrew,
Cocconcelli Pier Sandro,
Crebelli Riccardo,
Gott David Michael,
Grob Konrad,
Mengelers Marcel,
Mortensen Alicja,
Rivière Gilles,
Steffensen IngerLise,
Tlustos Christina,
Van Loveren Henk,
Vernis Laurence,
Zorn Holger,
Dudler Vincent,
Milana Maria Rosaria,
Papaspyrides Constantine,
Tavares Poças Maria de Fátima,
Lioupis Alexandros,
Lampi Evgenia
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
efsa journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.076
H-Index - 97
ISSN - 1831-4732
DOI - 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7276
Subject(s) - food contact materials , residence time (fluid dynamics) , materials science , human decontamination , pellets , continuous flow , environmental science , process engineering , process (computing) , continuous reactor , waste management , pulp and paper industry , food packaging , chemistry , computer science , food science , engineering , composite material , catalysis , biochemistry , geotechnical engineering , biochemical engineering , operating system
The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Roxane Nord (EU register number RECYC239), which uses the VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐leaN) technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, including no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are heated in a continuous reactor under vacuum before being extruded and pelletised. The crystallised pellets are then preheated and submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a continuous reactor at high temperature under vacuum and gas flow. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the continuous reactor (step 2), the preheating (step 4) and the SSP reactor (step 5) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are temperature and residence time in the continuous reactors of steps 2, 4 and 5, pressure in steps 2 and 5 as well as the gas velocity in steps 4 and 5. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens, and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.