Process for cleaning comminuted plastic material

A continuous method for preparing and cleaning grossly soiled products of plastic material, such as sheets, bands, sacks or the like for subsequent re-use, comprising the steps of comminuting the plastic material after removing rough foreign objects therefrom;

• feeding the comminuted plastic material into a washing solution having a greater specific weight than the plastic material;
• subjecting the washing solution and the comminuted plastic material therein in a washing zone to turbulence;
• advancing the comminuted plastic material into a turbulence-free zone containing washing solution and located downstream of the washing zone by transferring the plastic material under a submerged edge of a partition which is submerged in the washing solution and separates the washing zone from the turbulence-free zone;
• continuously removing the comminuted plastic material from the turbulence-free zone;
• and thereafter mechanically pre-drying and subsequently thermally finish drying the comminuted plastic material.