INNOVATION | WEEE AND ELV
Schematic of the CreaSolv Process
Source: Fraunhofer IVV
ment (LCA) study, moreover the scenarios to be compared have been defined and the initial outline of the scheme has been generated.” In the next phase of the project, Qureshi says, the development on the sorting sensors will advance towards online measurements of plastic waste samples. “On the recycling side, the selected materials will be trialled at pilot scale with opti- mised operating parameters. The subsequent step will be the improvement of recycled plastic properties and demonstration of a product from the recycled polymers. “The non-target polymers and possible polymer
residues of CreaSolv and Extruclean will be identified and the best possible combinations will be themochemically valorised into hydrocarbon- rich pyrolysis oil. Most importantly, the LCA will be carried out on the optimised process scheme ultimately revealing the associated environmental cost of the Nontox concept.” The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineer- ing and Packaging (IVV) is behind the solvent- based CreaSolv process. It says “odorous substances and contaminants (PBDE, HBCD, etc.) can therefore be efficiently removed. In order to recover high-puri- ty materials from complex mixtures of waste materi- als, we specifically combine the CreaSolv Process with mechanical, chemical and thermal processes.” Norwegian research outfit Norner is also
involved. “Circular Economy is one of the main focuses of Norner in our plastics technology development projects,” says Senior Researcher Carlos Barreto. “This is reflected in new investments which have resulted in the consolidation of Norner’s recycling centre to support our customers on mechanical recycling. At present Norner is active in both mechanical and chemical recycling of plastics from WEEE, ELV and also from households.” A third research outfit, Aimplas in Spain, is also working in Nontox. Sandra Ramos, an extrusion expert there, says the role of Aimplas is the adapta- tion of a pilot recycling line to ensure it is leakproof, as well as the setup and evaluation of the Extruclean
38 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | July/August 2020
process to remove hazardous substances. “Extruclean is a mechanical recycling process based on extrusion with simultaneous extractions by supercritical carbon dioxide,” she says. “Hazard- ous substances are volatilised and extracted from the polymer melt during extrusion by degassing using a vacuum pump. The removed substances will be adsorbed by activated carbon-based filters. These filters will be recycled thermochemically to recover bromine or to ensure their safety.” Aimplas is also involved in the EU Life Circ-ELV
project. Together with other outfits in Iberia and France, it is developing a new method of recycling plastics from ELVs, which it says reduces the carbon footprint by 75%. “Aimplas is coordinating the Life Circ-ELV project with the aim of creating a new, technically and economically viable network in Europe where [recycling] centres can separate parts such as fuel tanks and bumpers made of high-interest materi- als, including high-density polyethylene and polypropylene,” it says. “Plans are currently under way for initial separation followed by pre-treatment to generate recycled material for piping, as well as a recycled compound to produce new automotive components such as wheel arches. One project goal is to obtain 12 tonnes of recycled plastic from every thousand vehicles. By implementing this process and using recycled plastic, the carbon foot- print is expected to be reduced by 75%.” In addition to coordinating the project, Aimplas is developing the pre-treatment method for separated plastics so they can be passed on to the compounder. Aimplas will also be in charge of performing environmental impact analysis through- out the life cycle.
Aimplas is also co-ordinating the C-SERVEES
collaborative project in the field of electronics waste. The project is developing new circular economy business models for four product types: washing machines, printers/toner cartridges, TVs and telecom equipment. The business models focus on services such as eco-leasing, product
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
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