Abstract

In this experimental work, artificial plastic mixture of two kinds of components (i.e. PET and PE mixture) is tribo-electrostatically separated. The mixture is charged by friction in a tribo-cyclone.After a certain residence time inside the tribo-cyclone, the charged plastic flakes fall down freely through a horizontal electric field into collection bins. The DC electric field of up to 333 kV/m is created by using two plate electrodes made of Cu and having a given cross-section configuration. The plastic flakes of the mixture are drawn to either positive or negative electrode according to the polarity of the charge and are separated by falling into different bins. In order to ensure an easy and efficient separation, the inner wall of the tribo-cyclone is made of a suitable plastic material to improve the frictional charging of the flakes. Each plastic component is separated with a grade higher than 95% and recovery higher than 75%.