Separation of packaging plastics by froth flotation in a continuous pilot plant
- 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, Vol. 30, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2010.05.023; PII: S0956-053X(10)00311-9; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0956-053X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CLEANING
FLOTATION
INDUSTRY
PACKAGING
PILOT PLANTS
POLYESTERS
POLYSTYRENE
PORTUGAL
PVC
RECYCLING
SIMULATION
WASTE PROCESSING
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ESTERS
EUROPE
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYVINYLS
PROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WESTERN EUROPE