.

From Sunday 22nd June to Friday 27th June 2025 – Martiniplaza, Groningen, Netherlands

.

The European Polymer Congress, is the most important European congress in the field of polymer science and technology, it is theflagship event of the European Polymer Federation (EPF), organized in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society (KNCV), Polymeer Technologie Nederland (PTN) and the University of Groningen.

.

The Recycling and replacement of polypropylene socks for greater sustainability in mussel aquaculture, are the focus of the intervention of the Dr. Clarissa Ciarlantini which brings to Groningen the work carried out over the last 4 years within the Life Muscles project in collaboration with Professors Antonella Piozzi and Iolanda Francolini of the Department of Chemistry at Sapienza University of Rome and Stefania Di Vito, Fabrizio Soddu, Elisa Scocchera, Marzia Mattioli and Loris Pietrelli of Legambiente.

.

From the Abstract:

.
We know that mussels are an important source of low-cost protein for many people and that their production is environmentally friendly and sustainable, as they feed by filtering nutrients from seawater. However, the accidental dispersion of plastic socks used for their cultivation on the seabed and along beaches represents a significant environmental problem. The recovery and recycling of polypropylene (PP) can represent an adequate solution for the management of plastic waste generated by mussel farming. Due to the presence of salt biological encrustations on the surface of the material, mussel socks are associated with a European waste code (CER 020104) indicating a special waste. Therefore, their proper disposal involves significant costs (0.25-0.30 euro/kg). The EU-funded LIFE MUSCLES project was established to develop a new treatment method for the recovery of polypropylene from mussel nets.

.

Through experiments conducted on a laboratory scaleThrough experiments conducted at laboratory scale, it was verified that it is possible to effectively remove the biofilm (98%) from the polymeric material using pressurized water (25-30 bar). The spectroscopic, thermal and mechanical characterization of the shredded and washed socks for 30 minutes demonstrated that the treatments undergone by the polymer had a non-significant impact on the physical properties of the PP, allowing its reuse in the same supply chain. In particular, the regenerated PP had an elastic modulus value (0.697±0.058 GPa) comparable to that of the uncontaminated PP (0.758±0.069 GPa). For this reason, the Life MUSCLES project, adopting a circular economy model, promotes the recycling of materials through the construction of a mobile pilot plant capable of treating 300 kilograms of mussel nets per day, reducing the costs for new nets and minimizing the environmental impact.

.

Learn more HERE

.

The EPF is a non-profit organisation comprising almost all national polymer societies in Europe. It was founded in 1986 with 16 European countries as founding members and has since expanded to include 24 full members and 4 associate members. The European Polymer Congress, established in 2001, has evolved into a biennial conference of considerable scope, attracting an increasingly broad and diverse membership.

.

.