SE2230201A1 - New plastic types that are easy to recycle and to sort - Google Patents
New plastic types that are easy to recycle and to sortInfo
- Publication number
- SE2230201A1 SE2230201A1 SE2230201A SE2230201A SE2230201A1 SE 2230201 A1 SE2230201 A1 SE 2230201A1 SE 2230201 A SE2230201 A SE 2230201A SE 2230201 A SE2230201 A SE 2230201A SE 2230201 A1 SE2230201 A1 SE 2230201A1
- Authority
- SE
- Sweden
- Prior art keywords
- mix
- plastics
- plastic
- types
- ferromagnetic
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 87
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 title claims abstract description 87
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 230000005294 ferromagnetic effect Effects 0.000 claims description 34
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 claims description 24
- 230000005291 magnetic effect Effects 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 abstract description 4
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 abstract description 4
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 abstract 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000005389 magnetism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005339 levitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002105 nanoparticle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B17/00—Recovery of plastics or other constituents of waste material containing plastics
- B29B17/02—Separating plastics from other materials
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
- C08J11/00—Recovery or working-up of waste materials
- C08J11/04—Recovery or working-up of waste materials of polymers
- C08J11/06—Recovery or working-up of waste materials of polymers without chemical reactions
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
- C08K3/00—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
- C08K2201/00—Specific properties of additives
- C08K2201/01—Magnetic additives
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
- Y02W30/62—Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
- Separation, Recovery Or Treatment Of Waste Materials Containing Plastics (AREA)
Abstract
SummarySorting plastics for recycling is a challenging and hard job today. The reason is that some plastics are very similar in their behavior that makes it difficult to separate and sort them in an easy and economic manner. Examples are polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) plastics that has almost the same density, or different colors of the same plastic types that require the employment of optical sensors to sort them in dark and light colors.The innovation suggests the creation of new plastic types that are easy to sort and recycle, by altering and managing each plastic type in a way that each plastic type gets a unique attribute that makes it different from all other types. This attribute is then used under the recycling process to separate each type.
Description
Description The invention concerns new types of altered plastics, and a method and a device for separating and recycling these kinds of plastics.
The problem with sorting plastics today is generally caused by the fact that some plastics are similar in their behavior that makes it difficult to separate and sort them in an easy and economic manner. Examples are polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) plastics that has almost the same density and therefore it is hard to separate them by the density of the plastics.
The invention is based on the idea of creating some new kind of altered plastics which are easy to sort and recycle by giving each plastic type a unique attribute that makes it different from the other types. This attribute can be used then under recycling and sorting process to separate each plastic type out of a mix.
One way is to manipulate the density of each plastic type perhaps by adding other substances, or modifyíng the plastic composition so each plastic type gets a unique density compare to the other plastics. lt is then possible to sort a mix of these plastics by existing methods based on the plastics density.
Another approach is to use magnetism, by adding a specific amount of a suitable ferromagnetic agent to each plastic type in a way that each type carries a different amount of the ferromagnetic agent than other types in proportion to its weight and volume. When these ferromagnetic plastics are exposed to a magnetic field, any flake of each plastic type would experience a certain magnetic-force that is unique to its type and different from other plastic types. The generated magnetic force for each plastic type is related to the amount of the ferromagnetic agent that the type carries, and therefore these ferromagnetic plastic types build a hierarchy where the plastic at the top carries the most amount of the ferromagnetic agent, and at the bottom of the hierarchy stands the plastic type that carries the least. ln this way a mix of small flakes of different ferromagnetic plastic types could be separated by magnetic-levitation when the mixed is exposed to a set of magnetic fields with tuned strength, in the right order, and in a proper hierarchy (fig_1).
Obviously, the plastic type that carries the most amount of the ferromagnetic agent demands a less strong magnetic field to be affected and levitate than other plastic types that carry less.
Assuming that the plastics are already washed and clean, and having the right shape and size for sorting, a mix of these ferromagnetic plastic types could be sorted by processing the mix in a set of sorting stations. At each station the mix will be exposed to a magnetic field. The strength of the magnetic fields in the sorting stations are adjusted in a hierarchy that matches the hierarchy of the ferromagnetic plastics, where the strength of the magnetic field in the first station is the least and in the last station the most. The strength of the magnetic field at each station is adjusted for one of the ferromagnetic plastic types in a way that the magnetic field would be strong enough to affect and levitate the flakes of the corresponding plastic type out of the mix, but too weak to affect the other types that carry less amount of the ferromagnetic agent, and therefore the other types remain in the mix while the flakes of the targeted plastic type levitate and leave the mix.
By repeating the process in the right order of the hierarchy of sorting stations, the mix will be sorted at the end where the last plastic type in the hierarchy that carries the least of the ferromagnetic agent would be captured by the last sorting station in the line.
Adding the ferro magnetic agents to plastics could be achieved by different methods. The most obvious way is to add nano particles of a suitable ferromagnetic agent to the plastic composition itself.
The other method is to let the plastic carry the ferromagnetic agent on its surface. ln this method, the unique attribute for the type is achieved by calculating and managing the amount of the ferromagnetic agent that each plastic type carries regard to its surface and weight. This method might be useful for thín plastic products such as plastic bags. The ferromagnetic agent could be printed on the surface of these plastics, or by covering a normal plastic sheet with a ferromagnetic plastic sheet that contains the agent The results would be the same, and it is still possible to granulate these types of plastics along with all other ferromagnetic plastic types and separate them successfully because each flake of the specific type still carries a specific amount of the ferromagnetic agent that distinguishes it from other types.
The great advantage of using ferromagnetic plastics is that the method could be used along with existing sorting methods and machines, as it is possible to separate all of these ferromagnetic plastic types from nonmagnetic plastics in the beginning of the sorting process using magnetism. lllustrations fig-1: illustrates a mix of plastic types: 1, 2, and 3 that are exposed to three different sorting station A, B, C and their related magnetic fields. Plastic type 1 carries the most amount of the ferromagnetic agent, compare to the plastic type 2, and 3. The plastic type two carries less amount of the ferromagnetic agent than plastic type 1, but more than plastic type 3.
At each separating station A, B, and C the plastic mix is exposed to a magnetic field with a certain strength that is corresponding to one of the plastic types 1, 2, or 3 in a way that the magnetic field of station A should be strong enough to levitate plastic type 1, but too week to affect the other types. ln the same way, the separating station B should only affect plastic type 2 and make it to levitate and leave the mix, but type 3 should be unaffected and remain etc. (lt is assumed that the plastics are clean, and have the right size and shape for the process)
Claims (6)
1.)- A set of modified plastics, distinguished by the characteristics that the plastics carry a suitable ferromagnetic agent. The amount of the ferromagnetic agent should be in proportion to the plastics weight and volume in a way that when the plastic type is exposed to a certain magnetic field, a certain magnetic force should be generated which is exclusively associated with, and reserved for the plastic type. The different plastic types carry different amount of the ferromagnetic agent in a hierarchy based on the magnetic force that they experience in a certain magnetic field, in a way that it should be possible to separate and sort a mix of any combination of two different modified ferromagnetic plastic types by exposing the mix to the corresponding magnetic field that would generate enough magnetic force to cause one of the types that carry more of the ferromagnetic agent to levitate and leave the mix, while allowing the other plastic type to be unaffected and remain.
2.) A set of modified plastics according to (1), where the plastics carry the ferromagnetic agent in their composition.
3.) A set of modified plastics according to (1), where the plastics carry the ferromagnetic agent on their surface.
4.) A method for sorting a mix of different plastic types according to (1,2,3). Assuming that the plastics are washed and clean and have the proper shape and size for the separation process. The mix is processed by a set of stations. Each station is related to one of the plastic types according to (1,2,3) and is responsible for collecting the related plastic type out of the mix by exposing the mix to a proper magnetic field with a corresponding strength. The stations are positioned in a hierarchy where the strength of the magnetic field in the first station is strong enough to affect the corresponding plastic type that carries the most of the ferromagnetic agent regards to its weight and volume in the hierarchy to levitate and leave the mix, but too weak to affect the other types that are positioned below in the hierarchy and carry less of the ferromagnetic agent and therefore they remain in the mix. By repeating the process, at each sorting station the corresponding plastic type levitates and leaves the mix.
5.) An apparatus for separating and sorting a mix of different plastic types according to (1,2,3) by the method according to (4).
6.)- A set of plastics, distinguished by the characteristics that each plastic type's composition is modified to have a certain and unique density for its type in a hierarchy, in a way that it should be possible to separate and sort a mix of any combination of two different modified plastic types with separating methods based on the plastics density.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE2230201A SE2230201A1 (en) | 2022-06-21 | 2022-06-21 | New plastic types that are easy to recycle and to sort |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE2230201A SE2230201A1 (en) | 2022-06-21 | 2022-06-21 | New plastic types that are easy to recycle and to sort |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| SE2230201A1 true SE2230201A1 (en) | 2023-12-22 |
Family
ID=89575069
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE2230201A SE2230201A1 (en) | 2022-06-21 | 2022-06-21 | New plastic types that are easy to recycle and to sort |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| SE (1) | SE2230201A1 (en) |
Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH05154844A (en) * | 1991-12-06 | 1993-06-22 | Isuzu Motors Ltd | Method and apparatus for classifying plastic |
| DE4321612A1 (en) * | 1993-06-24 | 1995-01-05 | Wenzel Martin Prof Dr | Method of separating plastic parts in waste |
| WO1998045057A1 (en) * | 1997-04-04 | 1998-10-15 | William Rossi | Process for separating non-ferrous articles, and a non-ferrous article adapted to be separated |
| US20040035756A1 (en) * | 2002-08-06 | 2004-02-26 | Mankosa Michael J. | Plastic material having enhanced magnetic susceptibility, method of making and method of separating |
| US20120000833A1 (en) * | 2010-07-01 | 2012-01-05 | Eastman Chemical Company | Magnetically Enhanced Recycling of Plastics |
| US20120032009A1 (en) * | 2010-08-06 | 2012-02-09 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Separation process for plastics materials |
| US20120175445A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2012-07-12 | Michael Knust | Method and Equipment for Conditioning a Heavy Fraction High in Plastics |
| US20130324324A1 (en) * | 2012-05-31 | 2013-12-05 | Nike, Inc. | Recyclable golf ball |
| US20150283552A1 (en) * | 2014-04-08 | 2015-10-08 | University Of Oregon | Magnetic plastic or fiberboard waste separation |
-
2022
- 2022-06-21 SE SE2230201A patent/SE2230201A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH05154844A (en) * | 1991-12-06 | 1993-06-22 | Isuzu Motors Ltd | Method and apparatus for classifying plastic |
| DE4321612A1 (en) * | 1993-06-24 | 1995-01-05 | Wenzel Martin Prof Dr | Method of separating plastic parts in waste |
| WO1998045057A1 (en) * | 1997-04-04 | 1998-10-15 | William Rossi | Process for separating non-ferrous articles, and a non-ferrous article adapted to be separated |
| US20040035756A1 (en) * | 2002-08-06 | 2004-02-26 | Mankosa Michael J. | Plastic material having enhanced magnetic susceptibility, method of making and method of separating |
| US20120175445A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2012-07-12 | Michael Knust | Method and Equipment for Conditioning a Heavy Fraction High in Plastics |
| US20120000833A1 (en) * | 2010-07-01 | 2012-01-05 | Eastman Chemical Company | Magnetically Enhanced Recycling of Plastics |
| US20120032009A1 (en) * | 2010-08-06 | 2012-02-09 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Separation process for plastics materials |
| US20130324324A1 (en) * | 2012-05-31 | 2013-12-05 | Nike, Inc. | Recyclable golf ball |
| US20150283552A1 (en) * | 2014-04-08 | 2015-10-08 | University Of Oregon | Magnetic plastic or fiberboard waste separation |
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