Separation of components of plastic

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for separating two or more components of a plastic material for the purposes of recycling, with particular application to purifying poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) during recycling procedures. The process comprises contacting a quantity of the plastic material with one or more discrete pre-heated particles.

主权项

1. A process for the separation of a first component of a plastic material from a second component of a plastic material, the process comprising the steps of:
pre-heating a plurality of discrete contacting particles separate from the plastic material; and contacting a quantity of the plastic material with said plurality of discrete pre-heated contacting particles, wherein the particles are pre-heated to a temperature above a melting temperature of said first component of said plastic material, but below said melting temperature of said second component of said plastic material, whereby following contact of said plastic material with said pre-heated particles said first component melts and adheres to said particles thereby providing for separation of said first component from the plastic material.