The present disclosure describes a sequential continuous catalytic solvolysis process and system for deconstructing co-mingled plastics containing polyesters, polyamides, and polyolefins into polyester monomers, polyamide monomers, and low molecular weight hydrocarbons, respectively. The catalysts and solvents used in the process can be recycled, and the monomers can undergo polymerization to fresh polyesters and polyamides for everyday use. The low molecular weight hydrocarbons can be used as liquefied gas.

A method of recovering structural members from a used absorbent article comprising a front sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent body between the front sheet and the back sheet, wherein at least one of the front sheet and the back sheet includes a film, and wherein the absorbent body includes an absorbent body material, may include swelling the used absorbent article with water, applying a physical shock to and disintegrating the swelled used absorbent article into at least the film and the absorbent body material, and separating the film and the absorbent body material.

A method of processing of shredded rubber-containing waste involves its preliminary preparation, thermal decomposition in a furnace, separation of decomposition products into vapor-gas mixture and solid residue, and separation of a heavy hydrocarbon fraction from the vapor-gas mixture. Preliminary preparation of the waste is carried out by its blowing with water vapor until a waste temperature reaches 100 C., and thermal decomposition is carried out in residual oil in the starting phase, and afterwards in the atomized generated heavy hydrocarbon fraction and superheated water vapor, their weight ratio being (0.1-0.5):1. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction is separated from the vapor-gas mixture with water by atomizing it into the vapor-gas mixture flow at the rate of 5-15% of the mass flow rate of the mixture, while metal is extracted from the solid residue by magnetic separation, after which a product containing zinc oxide is separated by dielectric separation.

A system and method for preparing recyclable plastic for extrusion wherein the system comprises a vessel operable to receive a quantity of a raw plastic containing a liquid at or above 212 degrees Fahrenheit to re-crystalize the plastic, a chipper to chip the re-crystalized plastic after removal from the vessel after a predetermined period of time and a dryer to remove the liquid from the chipped re-crystalized plastic. The method comprises heating a quantity of source plastic to a temperature above the re-crystalizing temperature of the source plastic for form a re-crystalized plastic and chipping the re-crystalized plastic

A process (1, 101, 201) for separating a fibrous target component (21) from textile waste (2, 5) is shown, said textile waste (2, 5) containing the target component (21) and at least one ancillary component (22), whereby the target component (21) consists of water-swellable textile fibers (51) with a density higher than the density of water, the process (1, 101, 201) comprising the steps: a) dispersing the comminuted textile waste (5) in an aqueous solution (7) to obtain a suspension (8) containing the textile waste (5), and b) separating the dispersed textile waste (5) into a high-density target fraction (81) comprising the target component (21), and a low-density residual fraction (82) comprising the at least one ancillary component (22), according to the respective density of said components (21, 22). In order to provide a reliable, fast process for the separation of water-swellable fibers from other textile fibers which are similar in density, it is proposed, that the aqueous solution (7) is an alkaline aqueous solution (7) and the target component fibers (51) are swelled in the alkaline aqueous solution (7) prior to step b), thereby increasing the density and weight of said target component (21) relative to the density and weight of the ancillary component (22).

A recycling method applied to thermoplastic filaments mixed with undesirable materials. The recycling method includes a feed step and a spreading step. The method continues with a horizontal cutting step wherein the layer of thermoplastic filaments and undesirable materials is leveled, and then a first cutting step wherein the layer is cut in a first vertical direction, and a second cutting step wherein the portions of layers are cut in a second vertical direction orthogonal to the first vertical direction. The method continues with a tearing step, a beating step, a preliminary grinding step, an agglomeration step, a grinding step, a separation step and finally a recovery step.

A method for recycling a polymer composite containing polyurethane waste and polyethylene terephthalate waste includes the steps of: (a) mixing a polymer composite and a first preheated glycolysis agent to obtain a premix, the polymer composite containing polyurethane waste and polyethylene terephthalate waste; (b) heating the premix to a temperature ranging from 180? C. to 240? C. so as to obtain a liquefied premix; (c) subjecting the liquefied premix to a degradation process so as to obtain a polyol mixture; and (d) subjecting the polyol mixture and a second glycolysis agent to a heat transfer process, so as to obtain a cooled polyol mixture, and a second preheated glycolysis agent.

A method of recycling single or limited use items may include providing a one or more single or limited use items to a buyer, collecting the single or limited use items from the buyer when the single or limited use items are soiled, and producing oil and/or one or more petroleum-based product from the used items.

A process involving the steps in this order of: providing a waste plastics stream (A) comprising polyvinyl chloride (PVC); (i) supplying the waste plastics stream (A) to a reactor vessel; (ii) subjecting the waste plastics in the reactor vessel to a temperature of 250 C. and 350 C., preferably of 275 C. and 325 C., preferably for a period of 5-30 minutes, under applying a vacuum, preferably of 35 mbar, or using an inert gas sweep, and evacuating the generated hydrogen chloride (B) from the vessel, wherein the PVC is partially dechlorinated to form a waste plastics stream (C) comprising partially unsaturated PVC; (iii) removing the waste plastics stream (C) comprising partially unsaturated PVC from the reaction vessel; and (iv) separating the partially unsaturated PVC from the waste plastics stream to form a dechlorinated waste plastics stream (D).

A method of producing a granulated product from photopolymer printing plate materials. The method includes the steps of (a) sorting the photopolymer printing plate materials based on an identifiable property, wherein the photopolymer printing plate materials comprise one or more photopolymer layers; (b) subjecting the photopolymer printing plate materials to UV-C light from a UV-C light source for a period of time, whereby the photopolymer printing plate materials are rendered less tacky and more brittle; (c) grinding the photopolymer printing plate materials to particles; and (d) screening the particles to remove particles above a certain size and create the granulated product.