CA2098603A1 - Process for transforming in particular polyethylene composite foils into re-usable raw materials - Google Patents

Process for transforming in particular polyethylene composite foils into re-usable raw materials

Info

Publication number
CA2098603A1
CA2098603A1 CA 2098603 CA2098603A CA2098603A1 CA 2098603 A1 CA2098603 A1 CA 2098603A1 CA 2098603 CA2098603 CA 2098603 CA 2098603 A CA2098603 A CA 2098603A CA 2098603 A1 CA2098603 A1 CA 2098603A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
solvent
polyethylene
process according
bonding agent
transforming
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2098603
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jochen Brauer
Arnulf Lorenz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nordenia Verpackungswerke GmbH
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2098603A1 publication Critical patent/CA2098603A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08JWORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
    • C08J11/00Recovery or working-up of waste materials
    • C08J11/04Recovery or working-up of waste materials of polymers
    • C08J11/06Recovery or working-up of waste materials of polymers without chemical reactions
    • C08J11/08Recovery or working-up of waste materials of polymers without chemical reactions using selective solvents for polymer components
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02WCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W30/00Technologies for solid waste management
    • Y02W30/50Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
    • Y02W30/62Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Separation, Recovery Or Treatment Of Waste Materials Containing Plastics (AREA)
  • Processes Of Treating Macromolecular Substances (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A process is disclosed for transforming into re-usable raw materials polyolefin-containing used objects, in particular objects composed of polyethylene composite materials, preferably composite packaging foils made of several layers, including at least one first polyethylene layer and at least one second layer made of a similar polyethylene of the same type, of another polymer or of another material, for example aluminum. According to this process, the used objects are shredded and the shreds are exposed under intense agitation to the action of a solvent in at least a solvent bath containing an organic solvent. When the individual layers of the composite material are bonded by a bonding agent composed of higher-percentage co- or terpolymers of polyethylene with acrylic acid and its derivatives, as well as of higher-percentage ethylene-vinylacetate copolymers, a solvent is used that causes the bonding agent to swell, such as low-boiling acetic acid ester.

Description

209~6i~3 ~ he invention relates to a process for transforming polyolefin-containing, use~ objects into reu~able raw materials, in partioular for transforming ob~e~ts consi~ting of poly-ethylene compo~ites, prefera~ly composite foils for packaging purposes ~ith several layers, of which at least one fir~
l~yer consists of polyethylene, and at least one se~ond layer of the same, the samc type Of polyethylene, of another polymer ~'!
or another ~aterial, ~or example alumi~um.

Polyethylene is a thermoplastic material which is rep~atedly fusible and for that reason preferably 6uitable for reconditionin~.

Polyethylene composites, for example eomposite foils for packaging purposes having one layer of polyethylene and one l~yer of aluminum, however, can be reconditione~ only of the different materials have first been separAted from each other.

The invention i8 based on the problem of finding a proc~ss with which the polyethylene compositex can be sepa~ated and thus tran~formed intO reu~able raw materials~
2~98~

According to thQ invention, ~aid problem i8 ~olved in ~hat the used objects are shredded and the s~reds are ~ubjected under intens~ motion to the action of a ~olvent in at least one ~olvent bath containing~an organic eolvent.

In the manufacture of composites made of different mAterials, bonding agents are arr~ng~d between the individual layers of the composite in layers ~s well. Washing of the shreds under in~ensive motion in a solvent bath effect~
that the layers of bonding agent are attacked by the ~olvent until the adhesion ~etween the layers is cancelled.
By the shredding, a larger surface area of the bonding atents ifi exposed on the cutting surfaces and made acces~ible to the attack of the solvents. with used object~
made of composites with a bonding ~gent between the individu~l layQrg of the composito that consist~ of higher-percentag~ co- or terpolymers of the polyethylene with acrylic acid and it~ derivatives, as well a9 higher-percent~ge ethylene vinyla~etnte copolymers, a solvent is ~sed according to a further developmont of the invention that ~auses the bonding ~gent to swell. Solvents having the de~ired mode of action with o~ject~ made of the aforementioned types of polyethylene eomposites are -2~

low-boiling a~etic acid esters such as ethyl acetate and isopropyl a~etate, as well as aliphatic ether6 6uch as propylene glycol monomethyl ether, whereby the efficieney with respect to separation of the composite i8 greater with isopropyl acetate as compared to ethyl acetate and ether. ~he solvent causes the bonding agent to ~well, which cancels the bond between the 7 ayers. Due to the intensive motion in thc solvent bath, the layer~ of poly-ethylene and, for example aluminum, separate from each other, According to a useful furthe~ development, the efficiency of the ~olvents is increased also by maintaining ~he solvent in thc 301vent bath at a temperature conforming to its boiling tempereture.

The process according to the invention, beyond c~n~elllng the bond between the layers of polyethylene composite6, has the further advantage that printing inks adhering to the used objects are detached. Thi~ takes place particularly due to the intensive motion in the heat of the solvent bath.

Dependlng on the intensity of th~ motion of the ~hreds -in the ~olvent bath, it is possible to achieve a complete 2 ~ 3 removal o~ the printing inkg, for ex~mple in only 15 minutes. Use~ully, the shreds are separated from the solvent, which is highly loaded with printing inks, and acted upon by fresh solvent in order to prevent rè- :~
coloration. The shreds remain in the fre~h ~olvent for a predetermined dwelling ~ime . A reaction time 0~ 3 to 8 :
hours at approximately 80 to 85C under continued intensive motion lead~ to a ~e~aration of the bond between the ~ :
layers of the composite. The time requirement is dependent upon the type and structure of the composite. It i particularly advantageous ~hat an extraction of the;
additives and PE-waxes oontained particularly in pol~
ethylene takes place at the same time. Addit~ves such as anti~tatic agents, lubricants, thermo- or UV-stabilizer~
and the like, which a~e present in the polyethylene in unknown amounts and combinations, deteriorate the u~eful properties of the recycli~g product obt~nable fro~
polyethylene foils. This applies alqo to the degradation ~ubstances contained in the polyethylene that was processed to foil material, which are the unpolar P~-waxes which are formed during the life of a oil by the action of heat, ligh~ and weathering. ~he additives and degr~dation product~
are removed from the polyethylene parts of a composite by ~.

2~9~3 ~

the inten~i~e washing in ~he solvent. A separation o~ the bond ~etween the polyethylene ~omponents and particularly the metallic components such as, for example, aluminum i~ effected at the same time.

The composite components polyethylene and, for example aluminum presen~.in the solvent b~th upon expiration of the dw~lling time are eparated from the sol~ent, the residual ~olvent is e~porated, and because of the difference in density it i~ po~sible to sep~rate the components from each other, ~or example ~ia a float separation or with centri-fuges, and to make them separately available to ~urther pro-cessin~, for example proGesSing to recycling product~.

During the dwelling time of the shreds of PE-composites it i~ pos~ible al80 to renew the solvent proportionally or through con~inuous ~irculation with i~t~rme~$ate purlfying of the ~olvent in order to counteract recoloration of the polyethylene components by printing inks already deta~hed.

Of cour~e, according to the process of the invention it i~
pos~ible al~o to recondition composite foils consisting of ~9~3 two ox more layers of polyethylene material, which in each :
case are bonded with each other by bonding agents.

An exemplified implementation is shown in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 ~how a g-eatly enlarged sectional view of a shred part; and ~ig. 2 ~hows a s~hematic sk2tch of the proceQ~ flow.

Fig. 1 shows a shrod part which has been produced by ~hredding a uQed composite foil of polyethylene for packaging purposes. The composite foil and thus al80 the shred part consists of a fir~t layer 1 of polyethylene, a second layer 2 made of aluminum, as well as of a third ~ . ;
layer 3 ~g~in made of polyethylene. The layers 1 and 3 are ioined with the layer 2 and with each other via the bonding agents 4 and S applied to oaid lAyer~. With such composite foil6 it is particulArly advantageous to use as bonding agent~ higher-percentage co- or terpolymers of ethylene with acrylic acid and its derivatives, as well a~
h~gher-percentage ethylene vinylacetates. When the shreds are placed in a solv~nt bath, thQ layers consisting of the bonding agents 4 and S are present on the cutting -6~

~9~ 3 edges of a shred with relatively large 2iurfaces, so that an attack of the solvent can take place. ~he bonding agent6 4 and 5 swell after a predetermined time o~ action, which cancels the adhesion ~etween the layers ~, ~, 3.

Fig. 2 ~how~ a ~chematic view of the process flow.
In a shredding station 6, used composite foils for pack~ging purposes are charged from the top, ~s indicated by the arrow 7, and shreddod. The shreds are placed in a solvent bath ~ containing a solvent 8, as schematical1y indicated by the arrow 10. In the solven~ bath 9, in whic~ tho solvent i~ maintained at it~ boiling temperature by admitting heat, the shreds are intensively motioned, for example by ~ mechanical agitator or ~y producing eddying o~rrents.

Printing inks are caused to start partial 601ution and are rubbed of f ~nd are finally completely detached or removed by the intensive motion. The ink components contaminate the solvent and could le~d to recoloration of the polyethylene oomponents of the individual ~hred~.
In order to counteract such recolorin~, the ~olvent can be withdrawn at least partly (arrow 11) and purified in a :~

2~9~63~

cleaning station 12. Via a mixin~ device 13, the purified ~olvent either can be added to frosh solvent fed from a ~pply tank (not shown) in the direction of arrow 14 and returned into the solvent bath 9, or it can be continuou~ly recycled into the ~olvent bath 9 directly.

Of course, it is possible also to remove the ~hreds from the solvent contaminated with printing ink~ and to transfer them into a second solvent bath or addi~ional s41vent baths with fre~h solvent.

As soon as the ~olvent has effected a swelling of the bonding agent layers 4 and S in each shred, the shred parts of polyethylene and, for example, aluminum ~re pregent ~eparated from each other also d~e to the constant inten~ive motion, and can be jointly admitted to a separation station 15, A8 indicated by the arrows 16 and 17, the separAted l~yer part~ of polyethylene composites can be ~eparately admitted to ~urthsr processing.

Claims (9)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Process for transforming used objects containing polyolefin into reusable raw materials, in particular for transforming objects consisting of polyethylene composites, preferably composite foils for packaging purposes with several layers, of which at least one first layer consists of polyethylene and at least one second layer consists of the same, the same type of polyethylene, another polymer or another material, for example aluminum, characterized in that the used objects arc shredded and that the shreds are subjected under intensive motion to the action of a solvent in at least one solvent bath (9) containing an organic solvent (8).
2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that with used objects made of polyethylene composites, with a bonding agent (4, 5) between the individual layers (1, 2, 3) of the composite, said bonding agent consisting of higher-percentage co- or terpolymers of the polyethylene with acrylic acid and its derivatives, as well as of higher-percentage ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, a solvent (8) is used which causes the bonding agent (4, 5) to swell.
3. Process according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that low-boiling acetic acid esters are used as solvent (8).
4. Process according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that aliphatic ethers are used as solvent (8).
5. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the solvent (8) is maintained in the solvent bath (9) at a temperature conforming to its boiling temperature.
6. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that the shreds, after a predetermined dwelling time in the solvent bath (9), are separated from the solvent (8) and subsequently acted upon by fresh solvent (8).
7. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that during the dwelling time, the solvent (8) is partly withdrawn and the withdrawn part is replaced by adding fresh solvent (8).
8. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that during the dwelling time, the solvent (8) is continuously withdrawn from the solvent bath (9), purified and returned again.
9. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the layer parts (1, 2, 3) of polyethylene composites present in the solvent (8) upon expiration of the dwelling time are separated from the solvent (8) and subsequently separated from each other and separately admitted to further processing.
CA 2098603 1991-10-23 1992-10-15 Process for transforming in particular polyethylene composite foils into re-usable raw materials Abandoned CA2098603A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19914134889 DE4134889A1 (en) 1991-10-23 1991-10-23 METHOD FOR PROCESSING, IN PARTICULAR, POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITE FILMS, FOR REUSABLE RAW MATERIALS
DEP4134889.3 1991-10-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2098603A1 true CA2098603A1 (en) 1993-04-24

Family

ID=6443193

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2098603 Abandoned CA2098603A1 (en) 1991-10-23 1992-10-15 Process for transforming in particular polyethylene composite foils into re-usable raw materials

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0538730A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2098603A1 (en)
DE (1) DE4134889A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1993008229A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19530091A1 (en) * 1995-07-21 1997-01-23 Nordenia Verpackung Gmbh Process for the valuable processing of a bottom product from a distillative treatment
BR0202303C1 (en) * 2002-06-07 2004-06-08 Anderson Cr Massura Process for separating multilayer films used for packaging
US7253253B2 (en) 2005-04-01 2007-08-07 Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technology, Llc Method of removing contaminants from plastic resins
CZ307054B6 (en) 2015-12-22 2017-12-20 Ústav Chemických Procesů Av Čr, V. V. I. A method of separating a composite packaging material

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60212434A (en) * 1984-04-05 1985-10-24 Takeda Chem Ind Ltd Separation and recovery of composite material
US4543364A (en) * 1984-12-13 1985-09-24 The Dow Chemical Company Recovery of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
DE4037562C1 (en) * 1990-11-26 1992-08-27 Wnc-Nitrochemie Gmbh, 8261 Aschau, De

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE4134889A1 (en) 1993-04-29
EP0538730A1 (en) 1993-04-28
WO1993008229A1 (en) 1993-04-29

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