Batch separation of shredded bulky waste by gas-solid fluidized bed at laboratory scale

A gas-solid fluidized bed separator using various bed materials was used to separate shredded municipal bulky waste (SBW). Using 290 microm glass beads as the bed material, the apparent density of the fluidized bed was 1.5 g/cm(3) and the SBW could be separated into combustibles such as wood, paper and plastics and incombustibles such as metals and glass. The overall efficiency (Newton's efficiency) of the separation was calculated to be 0.93. In order to obtain high efficiency, the superficial velocity must be adjusted so that the fluidized bed is agitated moderately and at the same time there is no weak fluidized region. Using a mixture of particles of nylon shot and 68 microm glass beads, the apparent density of the fluidized mixture bed could be varied between 0.63 and 0.99 g/cm(3) by changing the mixing ratio of the two materials. In the case of a mixing ratio of 20% for glass beads, an apparent density of 0.65 g/cm(3) was produced, in which wood and paper components were recovered while plastics remained in the bed to give a final overall efficiency of 0.88.     

New characterisation method of electrical and electronic equipment wastes (WEEE)

Innovative separation and beneficiation techniques of various materials encountered in electrical and electronic equipment wastes (WEEE) is a major improvement for its recycling. Mechanical separation-oriented characterisation of WEEE was conducted in an attempt to evaluate the amenability of mechanical separation processes. Properties such as liberation degree of fractions (plastics, metals ferrous and non-ferrous), which are essential for mechanical separation, are analysed by means of a grain counting approach. Two different samples from different recycling industries were characterised in this work. The first sample is a heterogeneous material containing different types of plastics, metals (ferrous and non-ferrous), printed circuit board (PCB), rubber and wood. The second sample contains a mixture of mainly plastics. It is found for the first sample that all aluminium particles are free (100%) in all investigated size fractions. Between 92% and 95% of plastics are present as free particles; however, 67% in average of ferromagnetic particles are liberated. It can be observed that only 42% of ferromagnetic particles are free in the size fraction larger than 20 mm. Particle shapes were also quantified manually particle by particle. The results show that the particle shapes as a result of shredding, turn out to be heterogeneous, thereby complicating mechanical separation processes. In addition, the separability of various materials was ascertained by a sink–float analysis and eddy current separation. The second sample was separated by automatic sensor sorting in four different products: ABS, PC–ABS, PS and rest product. The fractions were characterised by using the methodology described in this paper. The results show that the grade and liberation degree of the plastic products ABS, PC–ABS and PS are close to 100%. Sink–float separation and infrared plastic identification equipment confirms the high plastic quality. On the basis of these findings, a global separation flow sheet is proposed to improve the plastic separation of WEEE.     

Application of fluidization to separate packaging waste plastics

The objective of the experimental work described in this paper is the study of the separation of PS (polystyrene) from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) from drop-off points using a fluidized bed separator. This is a low-cost process commonly used in the hydro-classification of mineral ores. Firstly, experimental tests were carried out with artificial granulated samples with different grain sizes, types and sources of plastic ("separability tests"). The particle settling velocities were determined under different operating conditions. Then, based on the results, the laboratory tests continued with real mixtures of waste plastics ("separation tests") and the efficiency of the process was evaluated. From a PET-rich mixture, a concentrate of PS with a 75% grade in PS was produced while the underflow was quite clear from PS (grade less than 0.5% in PS).     

Floatability of polymer materials modulated by frothers

Flotation tests of 35 polymer materials were carried out to investigate their floatability modulated by frothers. Results of flotation tests demonstrated that polymer resins and soft PVC showed high floatability, floatability of hard PVC plastics was relatively low and was related to the frothers, and there exists significant difference in the floatability of different post-consumer plastics. Flotation rate of post-consumer plastics varies from 0% to 100%. Furthermore, three-category low-energy surface (LES) was defined based on the hydrophile index of the materials involved in this paper, and an adsorption model was proposed to explain the results of flotation and to discuss the floatability of polymer materials modulated by frothers. Frother molecules are prone to adsorb on the surface of bubble rather than LES at relatively low concentration, bubble adsorbed by frother molecules is prone to approach first-category LES rather than third-category LES, and the structure of liquid film is formed on the first-category LES at large concentration. Floatability of polymer materials modulated by frothers is further discussed: frothers increase the floatability of the first-category LES but decrease the floatability of the third-category LES, while the floatability of the second-category LES is related to the type of frothers.     

Use of selected waste materials in concrete mixes

A modern lifestyle, alongside the advancement of technology has led to an increase in the amount and type of waste being generated, leading to a waste disposal crisis. This study tackles the problem of the waste that is generated from construction fields, such as demolished concrete, glass, and plastic. In order to dispose of or at least reduce the accumulation of certain kinds of waste, it has been suggested to reuse some of these waste materials to substitute a percentage of the primary materials used in the ordinary portland cement concrete (OPC). The waste materials considered to be recycled in this study consist of glass, plastics, and demolished concrete. Such recycling not only helps conserve natural resources, but also helps solve a growing waste disposal crisis. Ground plastics and glass were used to replace up to 20% of fine aggregates in concrete mixes, while crushed concrete was used to replace up to 20% of coarse aggregates. To evaluate these replacements on the properties of the OPC mixes, a number of laboratory tests were carried out. These tests included workability, unit weight, compressive strength, flexural strength, and indirect tensile strength (splitting). The main findings of this investigation revealed that the three types of waste materials could be reused successfully as partial substitutes for sand or coarse aggregates in concrete mixtures.     

Theoretical and experimental study on the triboelectric separation of ternary plastics combination using fluidized bed

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Triboelectric separation is an efficiency and promising method to recycle waste plastics. Fluidized bed has been proved an optimal tribocharger...     

Behaviour of biodegradable plastics in composting facilities

Composting is a preferred treatment strategy for biodegradable plastics (BDPs). In this sense, the collection of BDPs together with organic household wastes is a highly discussed possibility. Under the aspect of the behaviour of BDPs in composting facilities, a telephone survey was carried out with selected composting facility operators. They were interviewed with respect to treated wastes, content of impurities, processes for impurity separation, experiences with biodegradable plastics and assumptions to the behaviour of biodegradable plastics in their facility. Forty percent of the facilities had some experiences with BDPs due to test runs, and also since the occurrence of BDPs in their waste was known. The majority of the operators expressed apprehension regarding an increase of impurities resulting from a combined collection of biowaste and BDPs. In the facilities, measures for the impurity separation from the biowaste were used in common practice - in 33% of the cases, separation of disturbing plastics was done before composting, in 33% after composting, and in 13% before and after composting. The most important separation processes for conventional plastics were sieving and manual sorting. In two cases air classification was also used. When asked about the separation possibility of the conventional but not of the biodegradable plastics in their facilities, the majority of operators were not in a position to comment or they replied that it was not an option. No problems were seen in most cases if the impurity separation follows composting. If impurity separation takes place before composting it was often assumed that the BDPs are mainly separated by sieving. In conclusion, in more than half of the cases, BDPs would not be composted if delivered to a composting facility. Under the actual conditions regarding the collection and the treatment/disposal possibilities, an application of BDPs seems to only be reasonable for clean (i.e., source separated on their own) fractions of BDPs.     

Energy efficiency of substance and energy recovery of selected waste fractions

In order to reduce the ecological impact of resource exploitation, the EU calls for sustainable options to increase the efficiency and productivity of the utilization of natural resources. This target can only be achieved by considering resource recovery from waste comprehensively. However, waste management measures have to be investigated critically and all aspects of substance-related recycling and energy recovery have to be carefully balanced. This article compares recovery methods for selected waste fractions with regard to their energy efficiency.Whether material recycling or energy recovery is the most energy efficient solution, is a question of particular relevance with regard to the following waste fractions: paper and cardboard, plastics and biowaste and also indirectly metals. For the described material categories material recycling has advantages compared to energy recovery. In accordance with the improved energy efficiency of substance opposed to energy recovery, substance-related recycling causes lower emissions of green house gases.For the fractions paper and cardboard, plastics, biowaste and metals it becomes apparent, that intensification of the separate collection systems in combination with a more intensive use of sorting technologies can increase the extent of material recycling. Collection and sorting systems must be coordinated. The objective of the overall system must be to achieve an optimum of the highest possible recovery rates in combination with a high quality of recyclables.The energy efficiency of substance related recycling of biowaste can be increased by intensifying the use of anaerobic technologies. In order to increase the energy efficiency of the overall system, the energy efficiencies of energy recovery plants must be increased so that the waste unsuitable for substance recycling is recycled or treated with the highest possible energy yield.     

Mechanical, Thermal and Water Absorption Properties of Kenaf-Fiber-Based Polypropylene and Poly(Butylene Succinate) Composites

The use of composites made from non-biodegradable conventional plastic materials (e.g., polypropylene, PP) is creating global environmental concern. Biodegradable plastics such as poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) are sought after to reduce plastic waste accumulation. Unfortunately, these types of plastics are very costly; therefore, natural lignocellulosic fibers are incorporated to reduce the cost. Kenaf fibers are also incorporated into PP and PBS for reinforcing purposes and they have low densities, high specific properties and renewable sourcing. However without good compatibilization, the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the fibers is poor due to differences in polarity between the two materials. Maleic anhydride-grafted compatibilizers may be introduced into the system to improve the matrix-fiber interactions. The overall mechanical, thermal and water absorption properties of PP and PBS composites prepared with 30 vol.% short kenaf fibers (KFs) using a twin-screw extruder were being investigated in this study. The flexural properties for both types of composites were enhanced by the addition of compatibilizer, with improvements of 56 and 16 % in flexural strength for the PP/KF and PBS/KF composites, respectively. Good matrix-fiber adhesion was also observed by scanning electron microscopy. However, the thermal stability of the PBS/KF composites was lower than that of the PP/KF composites. This result was confirmed by both DSC and TGA thermal analysis tests. The water absorption at equilibrium of a PBS composite filled with KFs is inherently lower than of a PP/KF composite because the water molecules more readily penetrate the PP composites through existing voids between the fibers and the matrix. Based on this research, it can be concluded that PBS/KF composites are good candidates for replacing PP/KF composites in applications whereby biodegradability is essential and no extreme thermal and moisture exposures are required.     

Separation of fine binary mixtures under vibration in a gas-solid fluidized bed with dense medium.

The coke-slag mixture discharged from water-air generators not only causes a serious environmental problem, but also is a potential resource. In order to obtain a high economic return, separation of fine binary mixtures in a vibrating fluidized bed with dense media was experimentally investigated. The effects of volume ratio (mono-component volume to dense medium volume or binary mixture volume to dense medium volume), the fluidization velocity and vibration parameters on separation efficiency are discussed. The experimental results show that vibration can prevent the coalescence and growth of bubbles and improve fluidization properties of particles and the stability of bed density. The major factors associated with separating efficiency are discussed. Based on the experiments, the ratio of the volume of particles to bed volume and the vibration conditions are also reported. It was found that the separation efficiency for a fine coke-slag mixture was greater than 70% and close to 80% under optimal conditions.     

Alternative polymer separation technology by centrifugal force in a melted state

In order to upgrade polymer waste during recycling, separation should take place at high purity. The present research was aimed to develop a novel, alternative separation opportunity, where the polymer fractions were separated by centrifugal force in melted state. The efficiency of the constructed separation equipment was verified by two immiscible plastics (polyethylene terephthalate, PET; low density polyethylene, LDPE), which have a high difference of density, and of which large quantities can also be found in the municipal solid waste. The results show that the developed equipment is suitable not only for separating dry blended mixtures of PET/LDPE into pure components again, but also for separating prefabricated polymer blends. By this process it becomes possible to recover pure polymer substances from multi-component products during the recycling process. The adequacy of results was verified by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement as well as optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.     

Contribution to closing the loop on waste materials: valorization of bottom ash from waste-to-energy plants under a life cycle approach

Incineration has undergone several technology improvements, reducing air emissions and increasing the efficiency of energy and material recovery; however, there is still a long way to go. To analyze the environmental impacts of waste incineration, this study assessed 15 waste fractions that compose municipal waste in Spain, which are grouped as non-inert materials (plastics, paper, cardboard and organic matter), unburned materials (glass and Al) and ferrous materials. Additionally, this paper evaluates the valorization of bottom ash (BA) to produce steel, aluminum and cement in these recycled/recoverable waste fractions. The results depend on the input waste composition and the heating value (HHV) and showed that ferrous and unburned materials had the worst environmental performance due to the null HHV. The valorization of BA in steel, Al and cement production significantly reduced the environmental impact and the consumption of resources. BA recycling for secondary steel and Al production would improve the environmental performance of the combustion of unburned materials and ferrous materials, whereas the use of BA in cement production diminished the consumption of NR for non-inert materials. This is of great interest for organic matter and PC, waste with a low energy production and high heavy metal and sulfur content.     

Flame treatment for the selective wetting and separation of PVC and PET

Flame treatment has been used for many years to modify the surface of plastics to allow coatings to be added. The effect of the treatment is to produce hydrophilic species on the surface of the plastic making it water-wettable. The production of hydrophilic plastic surfaces is also required in the selective separation of plastics by froth flotation. For the process to be selective one plastic must be rendered hydrophilic while another remains hydrophobic. In this study the potential for separation of PVC and PET has been investigated. Flame treatment was shown to be very effective in producing a hydrophilic surface on both plastics, although the process was not selective under the conditions investigated. Raising the temperature of the plastics above their softening point produced a hydrophobic recovery. As the softening point of PVC was significantly lower than for PET it was possible to produce a significant difference in hydrophobicity, as judged using contact angle measurement. When immersed in water the contact angle of the PVC was found to be strongly dependent on the pH. Good separation efficiency of the two plastics was achieved by froth flotation from pH 4 to 9. One particular advantage of the technique is that no chemical reagents may be required in the flotation stage. The practicalities of designing a flake treatment system however have to be addressed before considering it to be a viable industrial process.     

Enhancement of the recycling of waste Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries by mechanical treatment

A serious environmental problem was presented by waste batteries resulting from lack of relevant regulations and effective recycling technologies in China. The present work considered the enhancement of waste Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries recycling by mechanical treatment. In the process of characterization, two types of waste batteries (Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries) were selected and their components were characterized in relation to their elemental chemical compositions. In the process of mechanical separation and recycling, waste Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries were processed by a recycling technology without a negative impact on the environment. The technology contained mechanical crushing, size classification, gravity separation, and magnetic separation. The results obtained demonstrated that: (1) Mechanical crushing was an effective process to strip the metallic parts from separators and pastes. High liberation efficiency of the metallic parts from separators and pastes was attained in the crushing process until the fractions reached particle sizes smaller than 2 mm. (2) The classified materials mainly consisted of the fractions with the size of particles between 0.5 and 2 mm after size classification. (3) The metallic concentrates of the samples were improved from around 75% to 90% by gravity separation. More than 90% of the metallic materials were separated into heavy fractions when the particle sizes were larger than 0.5 mm. (4) The size of particles between 0.5 and 2 mm and the rotational speed of the separator between 30 and 60 rpm were suitable for magnetic separation during industrial application, with the recycling efficiency exceeding 95%.     

Characterization of shredded television scrap and implications for materials recovery

Characterization of TV scrap was carried out by using a variety of methods, such as chemical analysis, particle size and shape analysis, liberation degree analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, sink-float test, and IR spectrometry. A comparison of TV scrap, personal computer scrap, and printed circuit board scrap shows that the content of non-ferrous metals and precious metals in TV scrap is much lower than that in personal computer scrap or printed circuit board scrap. It is expected that recycling of TV scrap will not be cost-effective by utilizing conventional manual disassembly. The result of particle shape analysis indicates that the non-ferrous metal particles in TV scrap formed as a variety of shapes; it is much more heterogeneous than that of plastics and printed circuit boards. Furthermore, the separability of TV scrap using density-based techniques was evaluated by the sink-float test. The result demonstrates that a high recovery of copper could be obtained by using an effective gravity separation process. Identification of plastics shows that the major plastic in TV scrap is high impact polystyrene. Gravity separation of plastics may encounter some challenges in separation of plastics from TV scrap because of specific density variations.     

Performance evaluation of material separation from spent fluorescent lamps using the thermal end-cutting method

The recovery of valuable materials such as aluminum, phosphor powder, and glass from spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs) is part of the overall recycling process of lamps. In the end-cutting process, an SFL is separated into a base cap and a glass part using thermal shock caused by the temperature difference between the heating unit and the cooling unit. The separation efficiency of the end-cutting system is estimated by measuring the mass of the parts of the SFL. The optimum condition of the end-cutting process with thermal shock was determined to have a temperature difference of 600 °C and moving speed of 2 cm/s. At optimum conditions, the separation efficiency of glass and the end cap from an SFL using the end-cutting method is estimated to be more than about 97 %. In an air injection system, however, the separation efficiency of phosphor powder from glass is less than 50 %. Separation efficiency in the end-cutting system is increased by decreasing the moving speed of the SFL and increasing the temperature difference between the heating unit and the cooling unit. From the results of experiments, it was found that the end-cutting unit has very high performance because the overall separation efficiency is more than 95 %.     

Thermal degradation of PMMA in fluidised beds

In recent years, the production and consumption of plastics have increased significantly and wastes are commonly incinerated or dumped in a landfill. Plastics pyrolysis, on the other hand, may provide an alternative means for disposal of plastic wastes with recovery of valuable gasoline-range hydrocarbons or the monomer. Pyrolysis of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) may result in very high recycling rates (90-98%) of the monomer methylmethacrylate (MMA) since the cracking of MMA to lighter molecules (CO2, CO and light hydrocarbons) is limited. The MMA-yield is mainly dependent on the residence time of the gas in the reactor and to a lesser extent on the operating temperature. The paper presents experimental work performed in a lead bath and in a fluidised bed. At low temperatures, the reaction is kinetically controlled, whereas at high temperatures, heat transfer restricts the overall reaction rate. It was demonstrated that the heat transfer in the fluid bed could be estimated by the equation of Kothari. A design procedure for a fluid bed PMMA-depolymerisation reactor is outlined and illustrated for a process of 1 tpd PMMA.     

Quantitative characterization of recyclable resources dismantled from waste liquid crystal display products

Currently only limited materials, such as common metals and plastics, are recovered from waste flat-panel displays, thus necessitating the development of a comprehensive recycling process. This study aims to establish a statistical database about the types and amounts of valuable resources in waste liquid crystal display (LCD) products. To obtain these data, the waste LCD products were disassembled into four components: plastics, printed circuit boards, metals, and other materials, including their panels, and the weight of each component was measured. Overall, the product weight decreased with increasing manufacturing year regardless of the product screen size; however, the decreasing rate varied from 14 to 73%. The metal weight ratios decreased significantly by 24–31%. Meanwhile, regardless of the manufacturing year, the plastic weight ratios remained almost constant at about 20%. On the other hand, the weight ratio of the other components increased by 26–46% with increasing manufacturing year suggesting that rare-earth metal recycling has become more important. These statistical analyses are expected to contribute to the development of an eco-friendly, high-efficiency dismantling/separation process that will enable higher value recycling and minimal waste disposal.     

Recovery of PET from packaging plastics mixtures by wet shaking table

Recycling requires the separation of materials appearing in a mass of wastes of heterogeneous composition and characteristics, into single, almost pure, component/material flows. The separation of materials (e.g., some types of plastics) with similar physical properties (e.g., specific gravity) is often accomplished by human sorting. This is the case of the separation of packaging plastics in municipal solid wastes (MSW). The low cost of virgin plastics and low value of recycled plastics necessitate the utilization of low cost techniques and processes in the recycling of packaging plastics. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of production of a PET product, cleaned from PVC and PS, using a wet shaking table. The wet shaking table is an environmentally friendly process, widely used to separate minerals, which has low capital and operational costs. Some operational variables of the equipment, as well as different feed characteristics, were considered. The results show that the separation of these plastics is feasible although, similarly to the mineral field, in somewhat complex flow sheets.