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.

Processes and facilities for using one or more PET-containing materials as a feedstock to a chemical recycling facility, and in particular a solvolysis facility, are provided herein. The PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise a quantity of PET-containing dry fines. The PET-containing dry fines may be derived from various processes and facilities, including PET reclaimer facilities and/or manufacturers of PET articles. For example, the dry fines may be collected from solid-liquid separators and/or dust collectors from processes that include conveying, drying, densification, centrifugation processes, and/or grinding PET-containing plastic material. Such dry fines are generally undesirable or unusable to mechanical PET recycling facilities, and typically are sent to landfills and/or incinerators. However, the processes and facilities described herein make use of the PET and other plastics present in these otherwise undesirable or unusable dry fines.

A process for the segregation, sterilization, and purification of recycled plastic medical waste with the subsequent production of plastic products made therefrom is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for the front-end segregation of recycled plastic medical waste into a polypropylene waste stream and a mixed plastic waste stream. These segregated streams are further purified through a processing method that removes contaminating fibrous, metal and other waste products. Polypropylene and mixed plastic streams isolated using these methods yield a homogenous material that can be blended with other materials for the production of raw plastic or for extrusion to form commercial plastic products. A method for tracking regulated and non-regulated medical waste stream production kinetics and chain of custody from discrete waste disposal sites is also disclosed.

Embodiments provide methods of disassembling an apparel product. The methods include exposing an adhesive of the apparel product to heat or electromagnetic energy. The adhesive is disposed at least partially disposed between a major component and a minor component of the apparel product. The adhesive includes a shape memory material. The major component forms a base portion of the apparel product and is configured to be supported and worn at least partially over a portion of a wearer. The minor component forms a secondary portion configured to be coupled to the major component with the adhesive. The methods include separating the major component from the minor component adjoined by the adhesive.

Embodiments relate a method for processing recyclable polymer material. The method may include grinding the recyclable polymer material to produce polymer flake material, washing the polymer flake material, removing contaminants from the polymer flake material with a flake sorter, and removing lightweight materials from the polymer flake material with an elutriator. The method may also include extruding the polymer flake material with a virgin to form an extruded polymer blend, degassing the extruded polymer blend, filtering the extruded polymer blend, and pelletizing the polymer blend. The method may also include passing the polymer blend through a silo with a homogenizer system equipped with hot air insufflation.

The present invention concerns a method for the selection and separation of polymers originating from urban and/or industrial plastic waste to obtain plastic materials for recycling which comprises a first step of supplying a mixture of polymers composed of flakes of polymers having dimensions ranging from 6 to 100 mm; a step of identification by means of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of the flakes of coloured and white plastic material and the flakes of black plastic material and subsequent separation from one other; several consecutive steps of identification by means of NIR spectroscopy of the different types of polymer from the coloured and white plastic material and subsequent separation of said polymer types.

An automated process for separating and recycling a broad mix of waste material including industrial and commercial streams. The process begins by collecting the broad mix of waste material. Optionally, the broad mix of waste material is sorted to remove contamination from the broad mix of waste material. Next, the broad mix of waste material is coarsely shredded. Plastic film is removed from the broad mix of waste material, creating a stream of plastic film and a separate stream of dirty cardboard. Residual plastic is separated from the cardboard stream and included either in the plastic stream or in an independent third stream. The process yields separate streams of a film-rich recycled plastic and a clean recycled cardboard having a purity of at least about 95%. Also provided are a related system and at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying software for performing the process.

The invention provides a method and a near infrared indexer for recycling plastic objects. The method includes illuminating the plastic objects with a light source for detecting the presence, obtaining spectra in the near infrared region in respect of each of the plastic objects detected, comparing the obtained spectra with a database having spectra of known plastic types and sorting the plastic objects based on the comparison obtained. The accuracy of sorting of the plastic objects is above 95%. The method utilizes near infrared range of 600 nm-1000 nm. The indexer includes a first optical chamber. A second optical chamber is coupled to the first optical chamber. A sorting arrangement having an exit chamber is positioned proximal to the second optical chamber. The exit chamber is provided with a first collection chute and a second collection chute.

Facilities and systems for handling of particulate plastic solids obtained from a mixed waste plastic separation system are provided. The facilities comprise at least one enclosed structure and an elongate overhead conveyor associated with the at least one enclosed structure that is configured to selectively deposit the particulate plastic solids into a plastic solids transport system that interconnects the handling facility and a plastic chemical recycling facility and/or at least one inventory pile within the at least one enclosed structure.

The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire with at least one sound absorber adhesively attached in its interior to the inner surface opposite the tread. The invention further relates to a process for detecting a pneumatic vehicle tire with a sound absorber and to a process for recycling a pneumatic vehicle tire with a sound absorber.

According to the invention the radially inward-facing surface of the sound absorber has at least one luminescent agent applied to it.

The tire according to the invention is detected via the luminescent agent.