Separation of packaging plastics by froth flotation in a continuous pilot plant

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.05.023· OSTI ID:21418129

Carvalho, Teresa ^[1]; Durao, Fernando; Ferreira, Celia ^[1]

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1. CERENA, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon (Portugal)

The objective of the research was to apply froth flotation to separate post-consumer PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) from other packaging plastics with similar density, in a continuously operated pilot plant. A representative sample composed of 85% PET, 2.5% PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and 11.9% PS (Polystyrene) was subjected to a combination of alkaline treatment and surfactant adsorption followed by froth flotation. A mineral processing pilot plant, owned by a Portuguese mining company, was adapted for this purpose. The experimentation showed that it is possible to produce an almost pure concentrate of PET, containing 83% of the PET in feed, in a single bank of mechanical flotation cells. The concentrate grade attained was 97.2% PET, 1.1% PVC and 1.1% PS. By simulation it was shown that the Portuguese recycling industry specifications can be attained if one cleaning and one scavenger stages are added to the circuit.

• OSTI ID: 21418129
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 30; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CLEANING
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ESTERS
EUROPE
FLOTATION
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PACKAGING
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PILOT PLANTS
PLASTICS
POLYESTERS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYSTYRENE
POLYVINYLS
PORTUGAL
PROCESSING
PVC
RECYCLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WESTERN EUROPE