TECHNOLOGY | WASHING
Above: A wash line installation from Herbold Meckesheim
with good material flow properties are needed. This is a demand that Herbold can support with its Plastcompactor technology. As the trend continues towards increasingly higher quality recyclates, advanced technologies like Hydrocyclone density separation, as well as hot washing, are key to success. More sophisticated plants and technology do meet the requirements and put recyclers in a position to comply with the demand for high quality recyclates, while at the same time allowing them to stretch their input material specifications to use lower quality or dirtier in-feed materials.” Zeiler also adds that projects are demanding
Below: Herbold Meckesheim has improved label remover technology in its PET wash plants
IMAGE: HERBOLD
increasingly higher capacities. The company has ongoing development projects to maximise single component throughput. Past film processing (single) lines had design capacities of 1-1.5 tonnes per hour, but in the near future 2 tph systems will also be offered. The larger plants are reducing capex per tonne and thus benefitting from the economics of such operations. Technical issues currently being addressed include solutions to process and separate laminated materials, says Zeiler. PET trays are also demanding and need adapted wash line solutions to maximise material recovery. In addition, plastics recovery from pulped waste which originates from beverage
cartons recycling can also be problematic. The hot wash processing step has been one of Herbold Meckesheim’s areas of development in the past. “With the practical experience derived in our operating film lines we have further improved and fine-tuned the process,” Zeiler says. “This involves the chemistry of the washing agents and the cleaning and rinsing after the material has passed the hot wash batch units. Hot washing enables a reduction in organic odours, glue and paper. For PET bottle washing plants we have improved our HLR series label remover. The machine’s process parameters can now be adjusted to best tune it for specific bottle types. Intensive field studies pro- vided us with the data required to best balance the delabelling rate, throughput and PET recovery rate. In addition, a service-friendly design has been implemented to allow fast change of tools.” Herbold Meckesheim has recently supplied a PET wash line to Fantastic Plastic based in Nizhniy- Novgorod – a Russian company collecting and sorting household waste. The PET bottles are separated in a complex sorting line by ballistic and optical sorters and then processed by Herbold PET wash technology. The post-consumer recyclate (PCR) input is low quality, which needs a good washing process. The company developed a process design with several separation and washing stages, includ- ing Hydrocyclone technology with high and sharp density separation allowing high quality PET flake recovery, as well as an adapted hot wash system. The output of the new washing plant is 1,500 kg/h. After successful development of the distribution channels, a further extension of the plant is already planned. In Chile, Herbold Meckesheim has also supplied a hot wash system for washing film coming from the fishing industry. These applications show how organic odours can be reduced with hot wash technology, says the company. “Wash line technology is undergoing a continu- ous development process,” says Zeiler. “We have numerous areas of development, with many different process components being involved. Upgrading and increasing capacities, as well as improved process automation and digitalisation are the main ones. There is also going to be more integration of different technologies for sorting, separating, cleaning and granulation. We are acting together with other partners in the process stream to improve the overall recycling operation and best balance the available technologies. Collaboration is key to achieve the joint target of improving recyclate quality and utilisation in end-products – replacing virgin material.” Lindner Washtech has developed the Film
44
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: HERBOLD
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
