INNOVATION | WASHING
Evonik tests indicate the dewatering performance of its TEGO XP 11022 additive during washing of HDPE Source: Evonik
during the washing step by up to around 70%, which results in a reduction of the energy consump- tion during the drying process. This can eliminate the need for centrifuges, the company says. Evonik says that its focus is the optimisation of the mechanical recycling process, particularly the wet stage and during the process, and in plastics upcycling steps. “For the wet stage, we offer high efficiency additives that optimise the float-sink process with good de-foaming, wetting, de-inking, and de-labelling performance,” says Offenbach. “Among these additives we also offer ones that have food contact approval status, which can not only be used in PCR [post-consumer] and PIW [post-industrial] streams but also in the PET bottle-to-bottle process. Tego Antifoam 4-94 is an example of an additive that is suitable for PCR, PIW and B2B processes. Another additive is Tego Surten W 111, which enhances the de-inking and de-metallising process by improving the efficiency resulting in shorter washing steps. We have also developed the de-watering aid Tego XP 11022, which is used before the drying process and reduces the water content, shortens the drying process and lowers energy consumption.” Offenbach adds that future developments will include more efficient additives for PCR users. For example, more efficient de-foaming and wetting
Right: Sorema has recently supplied a film-to-film recycling plant for PPHU ANNA Recykling in Poland
agents that are biodegradable. By doing that it is possible to reduce water contamination during the wet stage, he says. Tego XP 11022 de-watering aid is the first successful additive that provides perfor- mance in combination with biodegradability. Sorema is observing growing global demand for its washing and recycling technologies with custom- ers looking to use PCR materials from flexible and rigid packaging in production. “The aim of new developments is always to obtain better quality flake output, in order to reach a performance level as close as possible to that of virgin material,” says Ottavio Previero in Sorema’s Sales and Marketing Department. “We can then consider this upcycling, when the washed and dried material passes through the extrusion process, closing the recycling loop through the production of films, bottles or trays again. However, problems include the wide variabil- ity of incoming materials from country to country, city to city and indeed one bale to another. As a result, tailor-made solutions are often necessary.” Previero continues: “The main fields in which we
operate are de-inking for PP pots and flexible PE film packaging, while we have also improved the de-labelling units for PET for high efficiency recycling. After significant development work in the laboratory, we have recently introduced the de-inking module into our systems. In addition, we are increasingly integrating wastewater treatment plants into our lines. This provides customers with good water quality for the cleaning of recycled plastics flakes, combined with a reduction in water consumption.” Sorema has recently supplied a film-to-film
recycling plant for PPHU ANNA Recykling based at Celestynów, near Warsaw in Poland. The com- pany was founded in 1995 and has always been active in the production of PE granules from industrial waste. However, in recent years growing demand for high quality post-consumer recycled materials prompted PPHU ANNA’s management to search for a partner to work with and develop a post-consumer PE film recycling plant.
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PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | July/August 2021
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: SOREMA
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