Mixing and vegetable waste plastic for building materials

Research and development

A new company has been intertwined science of chemical engineering and technology to recycle all kinds of useless plastic and tequila agave bagasse similar to wood, but with greater resistance used as formwork in the construction industry or in the manufacture of banks tables and chairs.

The new company PLASTINOVA weaves the science of chemical engineering and technology to recycle all kinds of useless plastic tequila bagasse and wood-like agave, but with greater resistance used as formwork in the construction industry or in the manufacture of banks tables and chairs.

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 Anew company has intertwined PLASTINOVA science of chemical engineering and technology to recycle all kinds of useless plastic tequila bagasse and wood-like agave, but with greater resistance used as form work in the construction industry or in manufacturing benches, tables and chairs.

Generally the false work used to build roofs, arches or any structure is wood or aluminum. However, the supply of young entrepreneurs of Jalisco, state west coast of Mexico, aims to achieve a balance between the two in terms of physical materials while reducing the cost properties and recycling of organic and inorganic waste .

The composition of the tabloid goes from 10-35 percent agave fiber, complete with recycled plastic, since the latter is the matrix of this building material, said Alberto Medina-Mora Urquiza one of four partners PLASTINOVA, along with Eloy Aquino Herran, Milton Vázquez Lepe and Ignacio González Reyes.

PLASTINOVA lasted a year as a project, and in recent months managed to establish itself as a going concern producing composites of recycled plastic and agave bagasse, after a series of treatments get fiber to the tabloids form work.

Although PLASTINOVA was established in an area where tequila is produced, it is very difficult to obtain agave bagasse because companies use it as fuel for boilers. Employers, however, reached an agreement with two companies to leverage tequila plant waste.

To process agave hundred kilograms machinery requires about 36 hours. And one more day to transform the fiber into a pile of beads or pearls recycled plastic, with the tabloids, measuring 1.20 meters by one meter manufactured are 10 centimeters thick.

Making the tabloids requires a three-part process. First, with the help of a physical process to remove the alcohol, sugar, bone and shell agave residues, leaving only for cleaning fiber. After dried, ground and pulverized to obtain a powder similar flour.

During this process a compatibilizing agent is added to the fiber, which is a special substance that serves to alter the chemical composition of the waste, which is more resistant and compatible with different types of plastics, such propylene used spoons or high density polyethylene used in gallons of milk, Medina-Mora said.

Future plans of the company is replacing agave fibers with coconut, since according to lab tests are sturdier and are more suitable for use in building physical properties. Although this increased participation in entrepreneurial skills are required as they did last year in the Cleantech Challenge or become widely known to attract investors to support them in order to increase the capacity of the machinery.