Method for processing packaging remnants with recovery of materials
OwnerMathias Pauls, Torsten Kellnerinventors
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Abstract
The invention concerns the method and apparatus for processing remnant-holding packagings while recovering substances of value, said method including the following steps: The packagings are inserted into an operational vessel 13, and the residues are extracted using a solvent. The residue-containing solution from the operational vessel 13 is transferred into a sump. The residue-holding solution is concentrated in the sump while the solvent is evaporated in an evaporation station 19. The evaporated solvent is condensed in a condensing station 20. The solvent is recycled from a recycling station 22 into the operational vessel 13. The residues are enriched and then recovered in concentrated form from the sump.
Claims26
A method for the batch-wise or continuous processing of aerosol cans made of sheet metal holding polyurethane prepolymer remnants while recovering aerosol can material and said polyurethane prepolymer remnants therefrom, said method comprising the following steps:
- introducing said cans into an operational vessel, said cans being opened thereby, and extracting said remnants using a solvent for dissolving polyurethane prepolymer remnants, thereby creating a residue-holding solvent;
- removing said opened cans from said operational vessel;
- transferring said residue-holding solvent from said operational vessel into a sump;
- concentrating said residue-holding solvent in said sump while evaporating said solvent and thereby forming an evaporated solvent;
- condensing said evaporated solvent;
- recycling said solvent into said operational vessel;
- following sufficient enrichment, recovering said remnants in concentrated form from said sump;
- and
- providing an inert gas atmosphere during processing of said aerosol cans, wherein at least said steps of opening said cans, extracting said remnants, evaporating said residue-holding solvent and condensing said evaporated solvent are conducted in said inert gas atmosphere.
Processing equipment with which to carry out the batch-wise or continuous processing of aerosol cans made of sheet metal holding polyurethane prepolymer remnants while recovering aerosol can material and said polyurethane prepolymer remnants therefrom, said equipment comprising:
- an intake sluice for inputting aerosol cans to be processed;
- means for opening said cans to be processed;
- an extracting and receiving vessel for storing opened cans;
- means for extracting polyurethane prepolymer remnants from said opened cans, said extracting means including means for spraying solvent for dissolving said remnants;
- at least a first supply conduit for supplying said solvent for containing said remnants to said extracting means;
- at least a second supply conduit for supplying inert gas to form an inert gas atmosphere during processing of said aerosol cans;
- a drain for draining said remnant-containing solvent from said vessel;
- a conveyor means for conveying solid remnants of said opened cans after extraction of said polyurethane prepolymer remnants with said solvent;
- an outlet sluice for removing said solid remnants of said opened cans;
- and
- means for recovering said polyurethane prepolymer remnants from said remnant-containing solvent, said recovering means including an evaporation stage for distilling off said solvent, a condenser station for condensing said distilled solvent, and a recycling station for recycling said condensed solvent, wherein said inert gas atmosphere is provided at least to said extracting and receiving vessel, said evaporation stage and said condenser station during processing.
A method for the batch-wise or continuous recovery of container material and polyurethane prepolymer remnants from aerosol cans, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing aerosol cans holding polyurethane prepolymer remnants;
- providing a vessel for processing said cans;
- introducing said cans into said processing vessel;
- opening said cans in said processing vessel;
- extracting said remnants from said cans using a solvent for dissolving said remnants to thereby create a remnant-holding solvent;
- removing said opened cans from said processing vessel;
- transferring said remnant-holding solvent from said processing vessel into a sump;
- concentrating said remnant-holding solvent in said sump while evaporating said solvent to thereby form an evaporated solvent;
- condensing said evaporated solvent;
- recycling said solvent into said processing vessel;
- and
- recovering said remnants in concentrated form from said sump, said recovering step including enriching said remnants while in said sump;
- and
- providing an inert gas atmosphere during processing of said aerosol cans, wherein at least said steps of opening said cans, extracting said remnants, evaporating said residue-holding solvent and condensing said evaporated solvent are conducted in said inert gas atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.