Process for removal of contaminants from contaminated thermoplastic

A method for reducing an amount of a contaminant in a thermoplastic polymer comprising

• shearing a combination comprising a contaminated thermoplastic polymer in melt form, water, and a dispersing agent,
• after shearing, separating the thermoplastic polymer from the water and from contaminants that were removed from the contaminated thermoplastic polymer to recover thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein the contaminated thermoplastic polymer is a post-consumer recycled polymer and
• wherein the recovered thermoplastic polymer yields a reduction in ash of at least 30% relative to a yield of ash from the contaminated thermoplastic polymer wherein amount of ash is determined by thermogravimetric analysis.