Plasticizer Recovery Recycling

Coal used in power stations has the potential to be partly replaced by fuels derived from pre-treated plastics and paper waste, reducing both dependency on fossil fuels and reliance on landfill. APME reports on a project in the Netherlands which it co-sponsored to develop a substitute fuel from plastics. The environmental assessment of the project compared the environmental impacts of coal substitution with other plastics recovery methods, including gasification in feedstock recycling and energy recovery from plastics waste in cement kilns. The study also compared coal substitution with the generation of power from burning biomass. 

The eurrent and future levels of plastic packaging recycling is discussed with reference to the imminent updating of the 1994 Paekaging and Packaging Waste Directive. Data are ineluded relating to current recovery levels by eountry for western Europe, for mechanical and... 

Feedstock recycling is examined as a method of plastics recovery. The range of techno logics currently employed are described, and include pyrolysis, hydrogenation, gasification, and chemolysis. Methods for the recycling of mixed plastics wastes are discussed, which include work by BP Chemicals, VEBA Oil, Shell Chemicals and Leunawerke. 

Plastic Waste Resource Recovery Recycle in Japan. Plastic Waste Institute, 1987. 

APME (1998) Assessing the potential for post-use plastics waste recycling—predicting recovery in 2001 and 2006. APME Summary Report, Reference 8023... 

J. Leidner, Plastic Waste Recycling of Economic Value. Marcel Dekker, 64 (1981). A. G. Buekens and H. Huang. Catalytic plastics cracking for recovery of gasoline-range hydrocarbons from municipal plastic wastes. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 23, 163-181 (1998). 

V. Williams, Plastic Packaging for Pood The Ideal Solution for Consumers, Industry and the Environment, R 95 Recovery, Recycling, Re-integration. Proc. Cong. pp. II. 49-56 (1995). 

In the plastics recovery section, the polypropylene is separated from other plastics and products such as PVC separators, ebonite cases, labels, rope handles, etc., via a series of classifiers and hydro-cyclones. The polypropylene pieces or chips are cleaned, washed, and separated from any remaining paste and dust. Once the material has been shredded to smaller fragments, the plastic is a valuable by-product of battery recycling. Plastic cleaning and processing methods are so effective that heavy metal contamination in the final polypropylene product is very low. The final product can be used in household goods such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and dishwasher parts, or in products for the automotive industry [5]. 

APME, Assessing the Potential for Post-use Plastics Waste Recycling - Predicting Recovery in 2001 and 2006 , Summary Report, APME, Brussels, 1998. 

The automotive industry is committed to plastic recovery and re-use programs. Problems often arise regarding the incompatibility of the structural adhesive with the plastic recycle recovery process. The intrinsic nature of most structural adhesives poses a serious regrind problem, and therefore the adhesive must be cut out of... 

Each of the described collection and sorting methods have inherent strengths and weaknesses. They will most likely have to be used in combination to achieve good sorting. It remains to be seen whether the economy and energy efficiency of such systems will be competitive compared to incineration or landfill. As will be seen, the efficiency of this first step of plastics recovery determines not only the way the material will be recycled but also the applications for the generated feedstock. 

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