Mechanochemical process for producing valuable products free from persistent organic pollutants and other organohalogen compounds from waste comprising plastics and plastic laminates

A mechanochemical process for preparation of products free from organic halogen compounds, from disposable waste of mixed and unmixed plastics and plastic laminates, said plastics and plastic laminates being contaminated with organic halogen compounds, the process comprising the process steps of:

• (i) shredding the disposable waste containing the organic halogen compounds,
• (ii) milling the shredded waste into a mill containing milling balls,
• (iii) adding at least one reductive dehalogenating agent, selected from the group consisting of
• solutions of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals in liquid ammonia, liquid amines or aqueous solvents,
• Zintl phases,
• graphite intercalation compounds of alkali metals,
• saline hydrides, complex hydrides, complex transition metal hydrides or metal hydrides, aluminum, iron, zinc, lanthanum, the lanthanides and the actinides,
• into the milled shredded waste to form an admixture,
• (iv) further milling the admixture containing milled shredded waste and the at least one reductive dehalogenating agent, the further milling providing mechanical energy for a reaction of the at least one reductive dehalogenating agent with the organic halogen compounds to change structure of the admixture,
• (v)
• (a) separating the milling balls, and
• (b) separating formed halogen containing water-soluble products by washing with aqueous solvents, and
• (vi) checking washed water-insoluble products after drying as to whether they still contain the organic halogen compounds, and
• (vii) before and/or after the process step (iv) adding at least one additive, selected from the group consisting of charcoals, bio charcoals, pyrogenic char, polyoxometalates and sands.