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Title: Color sorting waste glass at Franklin, Ohio

Journal Article · · Resour. Recovery Energy Rev.; (United States)
OSTI ID:7330995

Tests conducted in Franklin, Ohio indicate that, while improvements have been made in color sorting glass, process changes such as aluminum recovery and less stringent end-product specifications are needed to make glass recovery technically and economically feasible. The Franklin tests fed municipal solid waste into a hydropulper, separated ferrous metals magnetically, then separated slurry into light and heavy fractions. The heavy fraction proceeded through successive stages consisting of a vibrating screen, magnetic rotary drum, heavy media separation unit, jigging, electrostatic separation unit, transparency sorting, and color sorting. Color sorting separated glass particles into flint (clear) and mixed color fraction by passing light through particles and using photocells for identification. Although the flint fraction averaged 96 percent purity, the contamination level of refractives (stones and ceramics) of six per pound exceeded conservative specifications of one per pound. Glass recovery yields of 34 percent were lower than anticipated, while aluminum recovery averaged 63 percent and offers a potential for combining the two into a profitable system. Cost projections based on reduced ceramic contamination and lower specifications indicate that large-scale facilities of 1000 tons or more could realize a profit of nearly 50 cents per ton. Color sorting equipment, however, adds significantly to the capital costs of glass recovery and precludes glass recovery as a single operation. (DCK)

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, New York
OSTI ID:
7330995
Journal Information:
Resour. Recovery Energy Rev.; (United States), Vol. 3:6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English