tExtended Conversations Series: AIMPLAS

This week we have a new instalment of our Conversation series, where we meet project partners and we discuss about their work in tExtended. Today we speak with Alberto Barranca from AIMPLAS, a Spanish plastics technology centre with more than 30 years of experience, where we discussed with us about what he likes about working in tExtended and what he thinks are the strengths of this project.

Thanks for speaking to us today. Could you start by introducing yourself and telling us where you are based?

My name is Alberto Barranca and I am from Huelva (in the south of Spain). Regarding academical aspects, I’m a biotechnologist. I did a PhD regarding heterogeneous catalysis in the university of Basque Country. Currently, I’m technician from the chemical recycling department of AIMPLAS (based on Valencia), working on new recycling strategies bases on temperature and solvents for treating plastic waste.

Can you tell us something about the task that you are specifically working on in tExtended?

I’m involved mainly in the work about digital tools and technologies for textile recovery and on textile recycling technologies. More specifically, I’m involved in tasks related to PVC separation in automotive textiles and in the solvolysis of PU textiles.

What do you like the most about working on this project?

I think that textiles will be one of the most important wastes in the future. Looking for new ways to valorize it is crucial to mitigate its environmental impacts. Chemical recycling strategies have merge to provide a solution (mainly thermal and solvent strategies). I think that tExtended will serve to continue in the development of new efficient recycling strategies not only for textiles but also for other kinds of wastes.

What makes your organization ideal for participating in the research/activities of tExtended?

AIMPLAS is a recognized research centre in Spain in topics related to plastics. AIMPLAS covers the entire value chain of plastics, providing solutions to companies and working in joining European projects in really innovative aspects. We have the most novel equipment in chemical recycling strategies since we are permanently updated with the state of the art, adapting our work and development to it.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for tExtended?

I believe that one of the main challenges to be faced by the technologies researched and developed within the tExtended project will be to scale them up in an economically sustainable way. Many of them are still emerging technologies, so it is necessary for them to reach market Technology Readiness Levels in order to be a real and effective solution.

What is one key thing you have learned from working on tExtended so far?

Current context of textile wastes and get an updated overview of the textile waste situation at global scale. In this way, it has allowed me to become even more aware of the situation.

How would you describe tExtended with three words only?

Cooperation leads to success.