Triboelectrostatic separation for recycling of seaweed-drying net frame plastic wastes

Abstract

In this research, on the basis of the control of electrostatic charge, a laboratory-scale triboelectrostatic separation for separating polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) in seaweed-drying net frame plastic wastes has been carried out. High density polyethylene (HDPE) in a charger material selection tests using a vertical-reciprocation system was found to be the most effective materials for a tribo-charger in the separation of PP, and ABS. In lab-scale triboelectrostatic separation tests using the HDPE pipeline charger, the charge-to-mass ratio (nC/g) of the mixed PP and ABS increased when the air velocity was adjusted to over 10m/s. The optimum splitter position estimated by Newton's separation efficiency (η/n) was a position +4 cm from the central. Furthermore, under the conditions of over 385 kV/m electric field and less than 30% relative humidity, a PP grade of 99.70% and a recovery of 92.30% could be obtained. © 2009 The Japan Institute of Metals.