Method for recycling cellulose acetate-containing material, pellets, extrudate, granulate thereof, and systems for recycling cellulose acetate-containing material

A method for recycling filter starting material, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• supplying filter starting material comprising cellulose acetate and paper, wherein the filter starting material comprises filter rod waste which accumulates during production thereof or used filter rod waste or smoked cigarette filters;
• grinding the filter starting material;
• feeding the filter starting material to a pelletizing press;
• and
• pelletizing the supplied filter starting material in the pelletizing press in order to convert the filter starting material into pellets,
• wherein the pellets have a higher density than the filter starting material as initially supplied, and
• wherein there is at least intermittent cooling of the filter starting material, the pellets and intermediate material stages of the conversion of the filter starting material to the pellets during the pelletizing,
• wherein the filter starting material, the pellets and the intermediate material stages of the conversion of the filter starting material to the pellets are kept below a critical temperature during the cooling,
• wherein the critical temperature corresponds to a cellulose acetate glass transition temperature,
• wherein the pelletizing is conducted by way of a press roller and a die,
• wherein the die is made from a thermally conductive material and the cooling is conducted by means of the die, and
• wherein the cooling is conducted via fluid cooling or via solid object cooling.