The invention relates to a method for decontaminating recycled plastic materials, which comprises the steps of selecting, grinding, washing, rinsing, drying and decontaminating, wherein decontaminating is carried out by means of the steps of extracting and rinsing, and extracting is carried out using a water-soluble solvent having a boiling point greater than 180° C. at atmospheric pressure.

The invention relates to a method for decontaminating recycled plastic materials, which comprises the steps of selecting, grinding, washing, rinsing, drying and decontaminating, wherein decontaminating is carried out by means of the steps of extracting and rinsing, and extracting is carried out using a water-soluble solvent having a boiling point greater than 180° C. at atmospheric pressure.

An improved process is provided for reducing cellulosic biomass into air suspendable micropowder. Although the process is particularly suitable for processing empty fruit bunches of oil palms, it is adaptable to most cellulosic biomass. The incoming biomass has a water content of around 50% and is reduced to centimeter scale pieces by a chipper or similar device. These pieces are then processed by a tandem line of four pairs of grooved rollers each successive roller having a larger number of grooves. This process squeezes moisture from the biomass and reduces the material into millimeter scale pieces. After an optional drying stage, the material is fed into a terrace line of three or four essentially smooth rollers which squash the material and reduce the particle size into a micrometer scale. Finally, the material is suspended in an air stream and fractionated by a cyclone and bag filter system.

An improved process is provided for reducing cellulosic biomass into air suspendable micropowder. Although the process is particularly suitable for processing empty fruit bunches of oil palms, it is adaptable to most cellulosic biomass. The incoming biomass has a water content of around 50% and is reduced to centimeter scale pieces by a chipper or similar device. These pieces are then processed by a tandem line of four pairs of grooved rollers each successive roller having a larger number of grooves. This process squeezes moisture from the biomass and reduces the material into millimeter scale pieces. After an optional drying stage, the material is fed into a terrace line of three or four essentially smooth rollers which squash the material and reduce the particle size into a micrometer scale. Finally, the material is suspended in an air stream and fractionated by a cyclone and bag filter system.

The present invention is directed to a process for the production of thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin, which avoids melting and/or significant foaming during subsequent thermal processing. The process comprises the steps of providing agglomerated lignin and heating the agglomerated lignin to obtain thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin. The thermally stabilized lignin can be further processed to a carbon enriched material.

The present invention is directed to a process for the production of thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin, which avoids melting and/or significant foaming during subsequent thermal processing. The process comprises the steps of providing agglomerated lignin and heating the agglomerated lignin to obtain thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin. The thermally stabilized lignin can be further processed to a carbon enriched material.

Disclosed is a device for processing plastic materials, having a shredding unit, a conveying unit having a screw (7), and an extruder, having at least one extruder screw (11), adjoining the screw, wherein the central longitudinal axis (3) of the screw (7) is oriented at an angle to the central longitudinal axis (10) of the extruder screw (11), in particular at an angle of 80° to 100°, preferably 90°, and the longitudinal axis (3) of the screw (7) is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis (10) of the extruder screw (11) by an offset (v) in the direction of the direction of rotation (12) of the extruder screw (11) at or in the region of the discharge opening (8) or the intake opening (16) of the conveying unit.

The invention relates to a process for devulcanizing a vulcanized rubber mixture, comprising the following steps: A) providing or producing a vulcanized rubber mixture, B) comminuting the vulcanized rubber mixture to a granular material composed of vulcanized rubber particles, where the vulcanized rubber particles have a maximum particle diameter of 100 mm, C) extruding the vulcanized rubber particles produced in step B) in a twin-screw extruder at a shear rate of less than 100 s.sup.−1, where the temperature of the vulcanized rubber particles during extrusion is less than 200° C., to give a devulcanized rubber mixture having a temperature above 100° C., D) cooling the devulcanized rubber mixture in a further kneading unit, so as to give a devulcanized rubber mixture having a temperature in the range from 50° C. to 100° C. The invention further relates to an apparatus for performing the process and to the use of the apparatus for devulcanization of a vulcanized rubber mixture.

A continuous granulation system for obtaining conditioned granules is disclosed. The system comprises a processor configured to produce a continuous flow of granules at an outlet of the processor. The system also comprises a collection chamber positioned downstream from the processor and configured to collect the granules from the outlet. Further, the system comprises an air displacement device coupled to the collection chamber and configured to create a unidirectional flow of air at the outlet in a direction of the granules exiting the processor and away from the outlet. The unidirectional flow of air conditions the granules obtained in the collection chamber. A continuous granulation method and a continuous granule collection system for obtaining the conditioned granules is also disclosed.

A continuous granulation system for obtaining conditioned granules is disclosed. The system comprises a processor configured to produce a continuous flow of granules at an outlet of the processor. The system also comprises a collection chamber positioned downstream from the processor and configured to collect the granules from the outlet. Further, the system comprises an air displacement device coupled to the collection chamber and configured to create a unidirectional flow of air at the outlet in a direction of the granules exiting the processor and away from the outlet. The unidirectional flow of air conditions the granules obtained in the collection chamber. A continuous granulation method and a continuous granule collection system for obtaining the conditioned granules is also disclosed.