SEPARATION AND COLLECTION APPARATUS OF PLASTIC-BASED COMPLEX WASTE

Abstract

The present invention provides a separation and collection apparatus of plastic-based complex waste in which plastic-based complex waste is separated into a floating plastic component, a dissolving plastic component, and a sinking component and collected, wherein a glycol is reacted with the dissolving plastic component to make a melt in a dissolution and separation reservoir 10, thereby plastic-based complex waste 20 is separated into a floating plastic component 20A, a dissolving plastic component 20B, and a sinking component 20C.

Claims

1. A method for separating a plastic-based complex waste into a floating plastic component, a dissolving plastic component, and a sinking component by using a separating agent and collecting each of plastic components separately from the separating agent, comprising: l) a dissolution and separation step for making a melt as the separating agent obtained by reacting a glycol with the dissolving plastic component, and then separating the plastic-based complex waste to be added therein into a floating plastic component which floats on the separating agent, a dissolving plastic component which dissolves in the separating agent, and a sinking component including a plastic component and a non-plastic-based component which sink in the separating agent using separating agent at a high-temperature and a normal pressure; m) a floating plastic component-receiving step for receiving the floating plastic component from the dissolution and separation reservoir and supplying the floating plastic component as a pellet raw material and/or a petrochemical raw material; n) a transferring step for transferring the floating plastic component toward an extraction portion in the dissolution and separation reservoir; o) a separating agent-receiving step for extracting the dissolving plastic component and the separating agent from the dissolution and separation reservoir; p) a heating step for heating the separating agent to a predetermined temperature range in a separating agent-receiving reservoir; q) a circulation step for circulating the separating agent in the predetermined high temperature range in the separating agent-receiving reservoir to the dissolution and separation reservoir so as to maintaining the separating agent in the dissolution and separation reservoir at a high temperature; r) a withdrawal step for withdrawing the sinking component from a bottom portion of the dissolution and separation reservoir; s) an evaporation step for evaporating the separating agent circulated using the circulation pump in the separating agent-receiving reservoir and receiving a mixed plastic component of an evaporated residue in a receiving reservoir; t) a condensing step for condensing the evaporated separating agent which is returned to the separating agent-receiving reservoir; u) a vacuum evaporation step for receiving the mixed plastic component in the receiving reservoir, wherein the glycol is evaporated in a vacuum, and the mixed plastic component is separated as a raw material for a pellet; and v) a another condensing for condensing the glycol separated by means of vacuum evaporation and returning it to the separating agent-receiving reservoir.

2. The method for separating a plastic-based complex waste into a floating plastic component, a dissolving plastic component, and a sinking component by using a separating agent and collecting each of plastic components separately from the separating agent, according to any one of claim 1, wherein the floating plastic component is at least one selected from the group of a polypropylene (PP)-based resin, a polyethylene (PE)-based resin, and a polystyrene (PS)-based resin, the dissolving plastic component is at least one selected from the group of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based resin, a polyurethane (PU)-based resin, a polycarbonate (PC)-based resin, and a polyamide (PA)-based resin, and the sinking component is at least one selected from the group of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based resin and a non-plastic-based component.

3. The method for separating a plastic-based complex waste into a floating plastic component, a dissolving plastic component, and a sinking component by using a separating agent and collecting each of plastic components separately from the separating agent, according to any one of claim 1, wherein the separating agent is a melt obtained by reacting the dissolving plastic component selected from the group of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based resin, a polyurethane (PU)-based resin, a polycarbonate (PC)-based resin, and a polyamide (PA)-based resin with a glycol.

4. An apparatus for separating a plastic-based complex waste into a floating plastic component, a dissolving plastic component, and a sinking component by using a separating agent and collecting each of plastic components separately from the separating agent, comprising: w) a dissolution and separation reservoir for making a melt as the separating agent obtained by reacting a glycol with the dissolving plastic component, and then separating the plastic-based complex waste to be added therein into a floating plastic component which floats on the separating agent, a dissolving plastic component which dissolves in the separating agent, and a sinking component including a plastic component and a non-plastic-based component which sink in the separating agent using separating agent at a high-temperature and a normal pressure; x) a floating plastic component-receiving reservoir for receiving the floating plastic component from the dissolution and separation reservoir and supplying the floating plastic component as a pellet raw material and/or a petrochemical raw material; y) a transfer blade that transfers the floating plastic component toward an extraction portion in the dissolution and separation reservoir; z) a separating agent-receiving reservoir for extracting the dissolving plastic component and the separating agent from the dissolution and separation reservoir; aa) a heating furnace for heating the separating agent to a predetermined temperature range in the separating agent-receiving reservoir; bb) a circulation pump for circulating the separating agent in the predetermined high temperature range in the separating agent-receiving reservoir to the dissolution and separation reservoir so as to maintaining the separating agent in the dissolution and separation reservoir at a high temperature; cc) a withdrawal screw for withdrawing the sinking component from a bottom portion of the dissolution and separation reservoir; dd) an evaporation reservoir for evaporating the separating agent circulated using the circulation pump in the separating agent-receiving reservoir and receiving a mixed plastic component of an evaporated residue in a receiving reservoir; ee) a condenser for condensing the evaporated separating agent which is returned to the separating agent-receiving reservoir; ff) a vacuum evaporation reservoir for receiving the mixed plastic component in the receiving reservoir, wherein the glycol is evaporated in a vacuum, and the mixed plastic component is separated as a raw material for a pellet; and gg) a condenser for condensing the glycol separated by means of vacuum evaporation and returning it to the separating agent-receiving reservoir.

5. An apparatus for separating a plastic-based complex waste into a floating plastic component, a dissolving plastic component, and a sinking component by using a separating agent and collecting each of plastic components separately from the separating agent, comprising: a) a swelling reservoir for making a swelling agent by mixing a melt obtained by reacting a glycol with the dissolving plastic component, with a liquid selected from the group of methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexane or a xylene-mixed liquid thereof and swelling plastic-based complex waste at normal pressure; b) a moving cage for separating the plastic-based complex waste into the plastic component and the non-plastic component by using the swelling agent in the swelling reservoir; c) a dissolution and separation reservoir for storing a melt as the separating agent obtained by reacting a glycol with the dissolving plastic component, and separating from the plastic component of the plastic-based complex waste without the non-plastic component and a plastic-based mixed waste into a floating plastic component which floats on the separating agent, a dissolving plastic component which dissolves in the separating agent, a sinking component including a plastic component and a non-plastic-based component which sinks in the separating agent using the separating agent at a high-temperature and a normal pressure; d) a moving cage with respect to the dissolution and separation reservoir for swelling the plastic-based complex waste so as to separate a non-plastic component and immersing the plastic-based mixed waste an the dissolution and separation reservoir, so as to dissolve the dissolving plastic component in the separating agent in the dissolution and separation reservoir, in order to separate the floating plastic component and the sinking component from the dissolving component; e) a separating agent-receiving reservoir for extracting and receiving the dissolving plastic component and the separating agent from the dissolution and separation reservoir; f) a heating furnace for heating the separating agent in the separating agent-receiving reservoir to a predetermined temperature range; g) a circulation pump for circulating the separating agent in the predetermined temperature range to the separating agent-receiving reservoir in the dissolution and separation reservoir so as to maintaining the separating agent in the dissolution and separation reservoir at a high temperature; h) an evaporation reservoir for evaporating the separating agent partially in the separating agent-receiving reservoir while receiving a mixed plastic component in a receiving reservoir; i) a condenser for condensing the evaporated separating agent and returning the separating agent to the separating agent-receiving reservoir; j) a vacuum evaporation reservoir for receiving the mixed plastic component in the receiving reservoir, evaporating the glycol in a vacuum, and separating the mixed plastic component as a raw material for a pellet; and k) a condenser for condensing the glycol separated by means of vacuum evaporation and returning the glycol to the separating agent-receiving reservoir.

6. An apparatus for separating a plastic-based complex waste into a floating plastic component, a dissolving plastic component, and a sinking component by using a separating agent and collecting each of plastic components separately from the separating agent, comprising: a) a mixing reservoir for making a melt obtained by reacting a glycol with the dissolving plastic component as a separating agent and mixing plastic-based complex waste to be injected a screw for extracting the plastic-based complex waste from the mixing reservoir; b) a dissolution and separation reservoir for making a melt obtained by reacting a glycol with the dissolving plastic component as a separating agent, and separating the extracted plastic-based complex waste into a floating plastic component which floats on the separating agent, a dissolving plastic component which dissolves in the separating agent, and a sinking component including a plastic component and a non-plastic-based component which sinks in the separating agent using the high-temperature separating agent at normal pressure and which includes a screw that extracts the floating plastic component; c) a floating plastic component-receiving reservoir for receiving the floating plastic component extracted from the dissolution and separation reservoir and supplying the received floating plastic component as a pellet raw material and/or a petrochemical raw material; d) a separating agent-receiving reservoir for extracting and receiving the dissolving plastic component and the separating agent from the dissolution and separation reservoir; e) a heating furnace for heating the separating agent in the separating agent-receiving reservoir to a predetermined temperature range; f) a circulation pump for circulating the separating agent in the predetermined temperature range to the separating agent-receiving reservoir in the dissolution and separation reservoir and the mixing reservoir so as to maintain the separating agent in the dissolution and separation reservoir and the separating agent in the mixing reservoir at a high temperature; g) a screw for extracting the sinking component from a bottom portion of the dissolution and separation reservoir; and h) an evaporation reservoir for evaporating the separating agent partially in the separating agent-receiving reservoir while circulating using a circulation pump and receiving a mixed plastic component used as a raw material for a pellet in a receiving reservoir.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a separation and collection apparatus of plastic-based complex waste according to the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating a structural example of a dissolution and separation reservoir in the embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 3 is an overall configuration view illustrating a second embodiment.

[0051] FIG. 4 is an overall configuration view illustrating a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0052] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail on the basis of a specific example illustrated in drawings. In a separation and collection apparatus of plastic complex waste, examples of waste 20 that can be continuously or intermittently injected into a dissolution and separation reservoir 10 include Al/PET/PE-based complex materials, carpets, X-ray films, medical infectious exhaust plastic, glass fiber FRP (GFRP), carbon fiber FRP (CFRP), electric substrates, electronic substrates, plastic for a car, old clothes, and the like.

[0053] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a separation and collection apparatus of plastic-based complex waste according to the present invention. In the drawings, 10 indicates a dissolution and separation reservoir in which a resin melt obtained by reacting tri-ethylene glycol (TEG) with at least one selected from the group of a PET resin, a PU resin, a PC resin, and a PA resin is stored as a separating agent 10A.

[0054] The plastic-based complex waste 20 is continuously or intermittently injected into the dissolution and separation reservoir 10, the injected plastic-based complex waste 20 is separated into a floating plastic component 20A including a PP resin, a PE resin, and a PS resin which floats on the separating agent 10A, a dissolving plastic component 20B including a PET resin, a PU resin, a PC resin, a PA resin, and an epoxy resin depolymerized under the addition of an alkali agent which dissolves in the separating agent 10A, and a sinking component 20C including thermosetting plastic such as a PVC resin and a non-plastic-based component such as a metal material, a non-metal material, a glass fiber, a carbon fiber (fibrillated film yarn), a boron fiber, an aramid fiber, a filler, cotton, marijuana, and acryl which sinks in the separating agent 10A using the separating agent 10A at normal pressure and 210 C to 300 C.

[0055] A withdrawal screw 11 that withdraws the sinking component 20C is provided in a bottom portion of the dissolution and separation reservoir 10, and the withdrawn sinking component is received in a receiving reservoir 12 and is used as, for example, a pellet raw material.

[0056] A condenser 109 that condenses an evaporated component of the separating agent 10A is connected to an upper portion of the dissolution and separation reservoir 10, and the condensed separating agent 10A is received in a receiving reservoir 110.

[0057] In addition, a floating plastic component-receiving reservoir 13 that receives the withdrawn floating plastic component 20A is provided in the dissolution and separation reservoir 10, and the floating plastic component 20A is used as a pellet raw material 20D or a petrochemical raw material 20E.

[0058] Furthermore, a separating agent-receiving reservoir 14 that receives the extracted separating agent 10A in the dissolution and separation reservoir 10 is provided in the dissolution and separation reservoir 10. A heating furnace 15 is provided in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 14, a fuel oil tank 108 is connected to the heating furnace 15, and the heating furnace 15 heats the separating agent 10A in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 14 to a predetermined temperature, for example, a temperature in a range of 210 C to 300 C, and exhaust gas from the heating furnace 15 is discharged through a chimney 107.

[0059] The high-temperature separating agent 10A in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 14 is circulated to the dissolution and separation reservoir 10 using a circulation pump 16, and the separating agent 10A in the dissolution and separation reservoir 10 is maintained at a predetermined temperature.

[0060] In addition, a part of the high-temperature separating agent 10A from the circulation pump 16 is sent to an evaporation reservoir 17, an unreacted separating agent is evaporated, condensed using a condenser 111, and returned to the separating agent-receiving reservoir 14, and a mixed plastic component included in the separating agent 10A is received in a receiving reservoir 18 in the evaporation reservoir 17, heated using a heater, and sent to a vacuum evaporation reservoir 101 using a screw 19.

[0061] In the vacuum evaporation reservoir 101, unreacted TEG is evaporated in a vacuum (at a low pressure), the mixed plastic component is separated, the unreacted TEG is condensed using a condenser 102, received in a receiving reservoir 103, and returned to the separating agent-receiving reservoir 14 using a pump 104, and the mixed plastic component is withdrawn from a reservoir portion of a receiving reservoir 100 using a screw 112 and used as a pellet raw material.

[0062] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the separation and collection apparatus of plastic-based complex waste of the present invention. In the drawing, 47 indicates a swelling reservoir in which a melt obtained by reacting tri-ethylene glycol (TEG) with at least one selected from the group of a PET resin, a PU resin, a PC resin, and a PA resin and also one selected from the group of methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexane or a xylene-mixed liquid thereof are stored as swelling agents and plastic-based complex waste 60 is swollen at normal pressure.

[0063] In the swelling reservoir 47, a plastic component of the plastic-based complex waste 60 is swollen to a state in which the plastic component can be separated from a non-plastic component using the swelling agents at normal pressure and 200 C or lower.

[0064] A cage 46 is provided so as to be capable of moving up and down in the swelling reservoir 47, the plastic-based complex waste 60, for example, a small-sized home appliance, an electronic substrate, or an electric substrate is injected into the cage 46 in a state of being crushed or not crushed, the swollen plastic-based complex waste 60 is removed using the cage 46, and a non-plastic component and a plastic component, for example, an empty substrate 52 or an IC chip 53 are differentiated on a work table 51.

[0065] A condenser 49 that condenses an evaporated component of the swelling agents is connected to an upper portion of the swelling reservoir 47, and the condensed swelling agents are received in a receiving reservoir 50. In addition, a swelling agent-receiving reservoir 56 that receives the swelling agents in which the plastic component is dissolved, is provided in the swelling reservoir 47, and the swelling agents in the swelling agent-receiving reservoir 56 are heated using a heating furnace 15 and circulated to the swelling agent-receiving reservoir 56 using a circulation pump 54.

[0066] In a dissolution and separation reservoir 30, a melt obtained by reacting tri-ethylene glycol (TEG) with at least one selected from the group of a PET resin, a PU resin, a PC resin, and a PA resin is stored as a separating agent, a plastic component of the swollen plastic-based complex waste 60, for example, the empty substrate 52 or the IC chip 53 and plastic-based complex waste 61, for example, glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) waste or carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) waste are separated into a floating plastic component including a PP resin, a PE resin, and a PS resin which floats on a separating agent, a dissolving plastic component including a PET resin, a PU resin, a PC resin, a PA resin, and a depolymerized epoxy resin which dissolves in the separating agent, and a sinking component including thermosetting plastic such as a PVC resin and a non-dissolving component such as a metal material, a non-metal material, a glass fiber, a carbon fiber (fibrillated film yarn), a boron fiber, an aramid fiber, a filler, cotton, marijuana, and acryl resin which sinks in the separating agent using the separating agent at normal pressure and 210 C to 250 C.

[0067] A cage 31 is provided so as to be capable of moving up and down in the dissolution and separation reservoir 30, a plastic component of the swollen plastic-based complex waste 60 or the plastic-based complex waste 61, for example, glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) waste or carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) waste is injected into the cage 31 in a state of being crushed or not crushed, and the floating plastic component and the sinking component can be collected by moving the cage 31 up.

[0068] A condenser 42 that condenses an evaporated component of the separating agent is connected to an upper portion of the dissolution and separation reservoir 30, and the condensed separating agent is received in a receiving reservoir 43.

[0069] In addition, a separating agent-receiving reservoir 32 that receives the separating agent in which the plastic component is dissolved, is provided in the dissolution and separation reservoir 30, a heating furnace 33 is provided in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 32, and the heating furnace 33 heats the separating agent in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 32 to a predetermined temperature, for example, a temperature in a range of 210 C to 300 C, and exhaust gas from the heating furnace 33 is discharged through a chimney 33A.

[0070] The high-temperature separating agent in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 32 is circulated to the dissolution and separation reservoir 30 using a circulation pump 57, and the separating agent in the dissolution and separation reservoir 30 is maintained at a predetermined temperature.

[0071] In addition, a part of the high-temperature separating agent from the circulation pump 57 is sent to an evaporation reservoir 36, the separating agent is evaporated and separated into a mixed plastic component and unreacted TEG, the evaporated separating agent is condensed using a condenser 41 and returned to the separating agent-receiving reservoir 32, and the separated mixed plastic component and an unreacted separating agent are received in a receiving reservoir 35 and heated using a heater.

[0072] The unreacted TEG in the receiving reservoir 35 is evaporated in a vacuum, condensed in a vacuum evaporation reservoir 40, and returned to the separating agent-receiving reservoir 32, and the mixed plastic component is extracted using a screw 38 and used as a pellet raw material.

[0073] Meanwhile, in the drawing, 44 indicates a receiving tank of a washing liquid that flows out when the plastic-based complex waste is washed.

[0074] FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment. In the drawing, 70 indicates a mixing reservoir in which a resin melt obtained by reacting tri-ethylene glycol (TEG) with at least one selected from the group of a PET resin, a PU resin, a PC resin, and a PA resin is stored as a separating agent 88.

[0075] Plastic-based complex waste 87 is continuously or intermittently injected into the mixing reservoir 70 in a state of being crushed or not crushed, and the injected plastic-based complex waste 87 is mixed using the separating agent at normal pressure and 210 C to 300 C.

[0076] A condenser 71 that condenses evaporated moisture is provided in the mixing reservoir 70, and the condensed moisture is received in a moisture-receiving reservoir 72.

[0077] The plastic-based complex waste 87 in the mixing reservoir 70 is sent to a dissolution and separation reservoir 73 using a screw. In a dissolution and separation reservoir 73, a resin melt obtained by reacting tri-ethylene glycol (TEG) with at least one selected from the group of a PET resin, a PU resin, a PC resin, and a PA resin is stored as a separating agent 89 and separated into a floating plastic component including a PP resin, a PE resin, and a PS resin which floats on the separating agent 89, a dissolving plastic component including a PET resin, a PU resin, a PC resin, a PA resin, and an epoxy resin depolymerized under the addition of an alkali agent which dissolves in the separating agent 89, and a sinking component including thermosetting plastic such as a PVC resin and a non-plastic-based component such as a metal material, a non-metal material, a glass fiber, a carbon fiber (fibrillated film yarn), a boron fiber, an aramid fiber, a filler, cotton, marijuana, and acryl resin, which sinks in the separating agent 89.

[0078] A screw that extracts the floating plastic component is provided in an upper portion of the dissolution and separation reservoir 73, and the floating plastic component is received in a receiving reservoir 74, sent to a transfer device 85, and used as a pellet raw material or a petrochemical raw material.

[0079] In addition, a screw that extracts the sinking component is provided in a bottom portion of the dissolution and separation reservoir 73, and the extracted sinking component is received in a receiving reservoir 77.

[0080] A separating agent-receiving reservoir 75 that extracts the separating agent 89 that has dissolved the dissolving plastic component is provided in the dissolution and separation reservoir 73, a heating furnace 76 is provided in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 75, the heating furnace 76 heats the separating agent in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 75 to a predetermined temperature, for example, a temperature in a range of 210 C to 300 C, and exhaust gas from the heating furnace 76 is discharged through a chimney 76A.

[0081] The high-temperature separating agent in the separating agent-receiving reservoir 75 is circulated to the dissolution and separation reservoir 73 and the mixing reservoir 70 using a circulation pump 78, and the separating agents 88 and 89 in the dissolution and separation reservoir 73 and the mixing reservoir 70 are maintained at a predetermined temperature.

[0082] In addition, a part of the high-temperature separating agent from the circulation pump 78 is sent to an evaporation reservoir 80, the unreacted separating agent is evaporated, condensed using a condenser 81, and returned to the separating agent-receiving reservoir 75, and a mixed plastic component that is included in the separating agent is received in a receiving reservoir 79 in the evaporation reservoir 80, heated using a heater, extracted using a screw 82, and sent to a receiving reservoir 83.