Reclaiming plastics from junk
Overdue.
Every end-of-life car is a source of raw materials
– in theory anyway. In practice, however, these resources are still used
far too seldom – particularly where plastics are concerned. During the
recycling process, the polymers land in the non-metallic shredder residue along
with dust, slivers of metal and textile fluff, and are made into granulate using
the SiCon process. This mixes the plastics so indiscriminately that it has never yet been possible to separate them
into the individual types again. They are normally used as reducers in blast
furnaces.
In a joint project with Toyota and Sicon, researchers…have developed a special solvent that removes a particular type of plastic from the granulate: the polyolefins used to make air filter housings, shock absorbers and side panels,” says IVV project manager Dr. Martin Schlummer.
“While this type of polymer dissolves in the solvent, the other plastics remain in the granulate.” The solvent is separated from the polyolefin and re-used. There is a further advantage, too: The CreaSolv® process is so effective as a cleaner that scientists can also separate out any toxins with which the polymer may have come into contact during shredding. “Using this technology, the overall recycling rate for end-of-life cars – metals, plastics and textiles – can be increased to over 90 percent,” says Schlummer.
The researchers have already been using the idea behind CreaSolv® for about a year, with great success, to recover styrene copolymers from electrical appliances such as computers and TVs. In this way, the researchers can recycle about 50 percent of the high plastic content in discarded electrical appliances.
Living in a county where recycling 101 is finally about to start - after decades of political struggle - I appreciate the potential this process offers.
Now, to get started on our 17th Century politicians. Oh, and - yes, I know it’s a press release. Doesn’t make it less useful.
In a joint project with Toyota and Sicon, researchers…have developed a special solvent that removes a particular type of plastic from the granulate: the polyolefins used to make air filter housings, shock absorbers and side panels,” says IVV project manager Dr. Martin Schlummer.
“While this type of polymer dissolves in the solvent, the other plastics remain in the granulate.” The solvent is separated from the polyolefin and re-used. There is a further advantage, too: The CreaSolv® process is so effective as a cleaner that scientists can also separate out any toxins with which the polymer may have come into contact during shredding. “Using this technology, the overall recycling rate for end-of-life cars – metals, plastics and textiles – can be increased to over 90 percent,” says Schlummer.
The researchers have already been using the idea behind CreaSolv® for about a year, with great success, to recover styrene copolymers from electrical appliances such as computers and TVs. In this way, the researchers can recycle about 50 percent of the high plastic content in discarded electrical appliances.
Living in a county where recycling 101 is finally about to start - after decades of political struggle - I appreciate the potential this process offers.
Now, to get started on our 17th Century politicians. Oh, and - yes, I know it’s a press release. Doesn’t make it less useful.
Posted: Fri - November 16, 2007 at 09:32 AM