Methods for recovering mineral substrates from valuable materials containing artificial mineral fibers

Abstract

Methods for recovering mineral substrates from materials containing artificial mineral fibers (W), characterized by the following steps: a) Shredding of the recyclable materials (W) and separating fiber recyclables containing artificially produced mineral fibers; b) Mixing the separated fiber materials with water or with a water-containing fluid to form a flowable suspension; c) Feeding the suspension to a mill (30) and grinding the suspension; d) Discharging the ground suspension from the mill and separating solids from the suspension that are smaller than a specified particle size; e) Dewatering and drying the solids separated in step d).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for recovering mineral substrates from valuable materials containing artificial mineral fibers according to the preamble of claim 1. It further relates to a device for carrying out such a method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Artificial mineral fibers (AMF), commonly known as glass wool, rock wool, mineral wool, kamila, or kamelite, are used as insulation material, in textiles, as reinforcement for plastics, and as optical fibers. Artificially produced mineral fibers are manufactured from mineral melts using various nozzle or centrifugal processes. Other mineral substrates suitable for this process include slag fibers or other non-fibrous minerals.

[0003] Mineral fibers can, under certain circumstances, be classified as hazardous substances. This classification is based on two criteria: firstly, their geometric properties, which include fibers with a fiber length (FL) > 5 µm and a fiber diameter (FD) < 3 µm, and a FL / FD ratio > 3:1; and secondly, their biopersistence, also known as bio-permanence, which describes the fibers' ability to remain in the human body rather than being excreted. This biopersistence is higher the less effectively the fibers dissolve in lung fluid or other bodily detoxification processes can effectively remove them.

[0004] Every year, more than 150,000 tons of man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) are generated as waste in Germany alone, in the form of hazardous and non-hazardous MMMF waste. Non-hazardous MMMF waste is defined as non-biopersistent man-made mineral fibers and those man-made mineral fibers that, according to the classification above, have a fiber diameter (FD) of less than 3 µm and a fiber length (FL) greater than 5 µm, and where the fiber length to fiber diameter ratio (FL / FD) is at least 3:1. If these parameters are not met, the fibers are considered either non-hazardous or particulate and therefore also non-hazardous.All other man-made mineral fibers are considered hazardous according to a definition by the World Health Organization (WHO) (IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer, ‘Man-made Vitreous Fibres’, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 81, 2002). Biopersistent fibers have been banned from use in the construction sector in the EU since 1998. However, ceramic fibers, used for example in the insulation of furnaces, and optical fibers remain biopersistent.

[0005] The most common health problems caused by artificially produced mineral fibers are irritations resulting from the penetration of larger fibers. Smaller fibers and fine dust generated by fiber breakage can penetrate deep into the human body. Whether they have the potential to cause serious damage there depends primarily on the duration and intensity of fiber exposure, the geometry and dimensions (length and diameter) of the individual fibers, and their biopersistence.

[0006] Although the chemical and mineralogical composition of mineral fibers was modified in some countries in 1998 to improve biosolubility, it is not possible to reliably separate artificially produced mineral fibers from (new) biosoluble and (old) artificially produced mineral fibers. As a result, artificially produced mineral fiber-containing construction waste must always be classified as environmentally hazardous as a precautionary measure and is landfilled. Therefore, the aim should be to process artificially produced mineral fiber-containing waste in such a way that it becomes biologically harmless to humans.

[0007] In the treatment of artificially produced mineral fibers relating to the field of the invention, a distinction must be made between in-house or near-industry recycling of new mineral fibers and recycling of materials containing recycled mineral fibers. In-house or near-industry recycling primarily involves pure mineral fibers, for example, in the form of mineral wool, which are generated in the corresponding production process. These are fiber sections that arise, for example, from cutting during the production of insulation mats, as well as surplus stock or rejects. These artificially produced mineral fibers can be fibers bonded with binders or "pure" fibers. In contrast, recycled materials containing artificially produced mineral fibers are processed products or construction waste.Most of these materials intended for recycling also contain foreign substances for technical reasons, such as organic or inorganic binders and adhesives, or laminations. Furthermore, many products, for example, thermal insulation bricks filled with insulating material, cannot be easily and cleanly separated into their components.

[0008] In addition to this treatment with regard to recycling, it may also be necessary to pretreat newly produced mineral fibers for further processing so that the fibers become mechanically harmless particles that can then be processed further.

[0009] Recyclable materials, such as waste products, rejects, or surplus products resulting from products containing such artificial mineral fibers, can be classified as either non-hazardous or hazardous according to internationally valid WHO conventions, particularly in the case of waste products. Hazardous recyclable materials require complex treatment to isolate the artificial mineral fibers classified as physiologically harmful and subject them to further processing. In this process, the hazardous artificial mineral fibers are ground or melted into physiologically harmless substances. Artificial mineral fibers classified as non-hazardous can be directly processed. For such further processing, it is necessary to first separate and remove the artificial mineral fibers from other recyclable materials.However, synthetic resin residues remain on the mineral fibers, preventing their reuse in a pure form. Hazardous mineral fibers, on the other hand, can be reused after appropriate processing. STATE OF THE ART

[0010] EP 0 747 126 A1 describes a method and apparatus for processing fiber components and foreign matter, including lamination material, in particular recycled mineral fibers. The method is based on the use of a high-pressure roller mill for comminution and a plurality of screening devices for the purpose of screening.

[0011] German patent DE 10 2012 218 878 A1 describes a process for recycling mineral wool waste in which the waste is introduced into a process chamber and melted by mixing under thermal treatment. This process requires the prior separate separation of lamination materials.

[0012] A process and plant for processing mineral wool are known from DD 292 939 A5. In this process, the mineral wool products are first freed from their outer coverings, then shredded, and the resulting mineral wool particles are disinfected, rinsed, and pressed. This is followed by another shredding process.

[0013] The unpublished German patent application DE 10 2021 128 758 A1 discloses and describes a method and a device for cleaning used fiber materials, wherein the fiber materials are first shredded and then mixed with a water-containing fluid. The resulting pulp is subjected to thermal energy under overpressure. According to one embodiment of the patent, the pulp can then be ground using a wet grinding device.

[0014] In view of the potential health hazard posed by artificially produced mineral fibers, elaborate protective measures must be taken when crushing and especially when finely crushing materials containing artificially produced mineral fibers to prevent dusts containing artificial mineral fibers from entering the environment. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The object of the present invention is therefore to specify a generic method that can be carried out without compromising the required safety and with manageable effort, as well as to provide a corresponding device.

[0016] The part of the problem relating to the method is solved by the method having the features of claim 1.

[0017] A process for recovering mineral substrates from materials containing artificial mineral fibers is characterized by the following steps: a) Shredding of the recyclable materials and separation of fiber recyclables containing artificially produced mineral fibers; b) Mixing the separated fiber materials with water or with a water-containing fluid to form a flowable suspension; c) Feeding the suspension to a mill and grinding the suspension; d) Discharging the ground suspension from the mill and separating solids from the suspension that are smaller than a specified particle size; e) Dewatering and drying the solids separated in step d). ADVANTAGES

[0018] The fiber materials to be treated by the process, for example, recyclable manufacturing or construction material waste containing mineral fibers, or demolition materials such as fiberglass waste, insulation waste, or construction and demolition waste, are first freed in step a) from adhering laminations, binders, adhesives, or other foreign substances that are not fiber materials formed from artificial mineral fibers. In this step, essentially all non-glassy or non-mineral components are separated. Subsequently, in step b), the fiber materials separated in this way are mixed with water or a water-containing fluid to form a free-flowing suspension, which is then fed in step c) to a mill where the suspension containing the fibers is wet-milled. This milling step can be carried out in a single stage in one mill or in multiple stages in several mills sequentially.After a predetermined grinding time, during which the fibers contained in the suspension are ground into fine-grained solid particles of a harmless particle size, the suspension is discharged from the mill in step d). Then, using separation agents, such as sieves or other classifying devices with, for example, a hydrocyclone, those solid particles smaller than a predetermined, harmless particle size are separated from the incoming suspension. The larger solid particles not separated from the suspension can either be disposed of or returned to the grinding process. The portion of the suspension containing the fine-grained solid particles separated in step d) is then dewatered in step e), and the fine-grained solid particles are dried.

[0019] The specified, health-safe particle size of the fine-grained solid particles is determined, for example, by maximum dimensions defined as safe by the World Health Organization (WHO). These safety criteria establish formal, technical, and legal safety in accordance with WHO guidelines. These criteria include, for example, a shape factor of fibrous solid particles with a length-to-diameter ratio of less than 3:1. Another criterion is the high risk of fibrous solid particles penetrating the lungs. Such fibrous dusts are considered respirable if their length is greater than 5 µm and their diameter is less than 3 µm.

[0020] The mineral solid particles recovered through the process, which are harmless to health, can then be further processed and reused, for example, in the production of concrete, frits, engobes and glazes, as well as ceramic masses or paints and varnishes.

[0021] Further preferred and advantageous features of the method according to the invention are the subject of dependent claims 2 to 10.

[0022] Preferably, step a) of crushing and separating the fiber materials containing artificially produced mineral fibers is carried out in the following sub-steps: a1) Feeding a stream of recyclable materials (W1) containing artificially produced mineral fibers to a first coarse crushing unit (10) and coarse crushing of the recyclable materials (W) in the coarse crushing unit (10); a2) Separation of coarsely crushed foreign material components, in particular non-fibrous material components, from the coarsely crushed material stream leaving the first crushing device in a first separation and separating device; a3) Feeding the coarsely shredded recyclable components of the recyclable material stream to a second coarse shredding unit and further shredding of the coarsely shredded recyclable components of the recyclable material stream and a4) Separation of further shredded foreign material components, in particular non-fibrous material components, from the material stream leaving the second shredding unit and separation of the artificially produced fibrous materials containing mineral fibers from the material stream of further shredded material components by means of a second separation and separating unit.

[0023] This multi-stage comminution and separation process ensures a very effective separation of the valuable materials containing mineral fibers and thus a high purity of the fiber materials intended for the subsequent grinding process.

[0024] To achieve a particularly high degree of purity in the recovered fiber material, the binders adhering to the mineral fibers can also be removed. Water-soluble binders, for example, can be washed or detached from the mineral fibers in a single soaking step. Phenol- or formaldehyde-containing binders can be biologically removed from the mineral fibers in a bioreactor using suitable bacteria that metabolize the respective hydrocarbons.

[0025] It is advantageous if the separation of the coarsely shredded foreign material components in step a2) also includes the separation of coarsely shredded ferromagnetic materials from the coarsely shredded material stream. This allows magnetic-metallic components such as staples, nails, or screws to be removed from the coarsely shredded material stream at an early stage.

[0026] It is further advantageous if the separation of the further shredded foreign material components in step a4) also includes the separation of ferromagnetic materials from the further shredded material stream. This allows magnetic-metallic fragments or other smaller components to be removed from the further shredded material stream in this step as well.

[0027] It is particularly advantageous if the separation of the further shredded foreign material components in step a4) also includes the separation of non-magnetic metallic substances from the further shredded material stream. This also removes non-magnetic foreign materials, such as aluminum or copper, from the material stream.

[0028] A particularly preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention is one that can be combined with other embodiments and in which, during the separation of solids from the suspension in step d), the solids from the suspension that are larger than the predetermined particle size are returned to the mill in step c) and fed back into the mill in step c). This return of the suspension with the unseparated solids and the subsequent re-milling increases the efficiency of the process and reduces the amount of residual material to be disposed of.

[0029] It is also advantageous if the coarse shredding of the recyclable materials in the recycling stream in the coarse shredding unit in step a1) is carried out by shredding the recyclable materials in a shredder.

[0030] It is also advantageous if the separation of the coarsely crushed foreign material components is carried out by sieving in step a2) using a sieving device which preferably has a moving sieve, in particular a drum sieve.

[0031] Preferably, the further comminution of the coarsely crushed recyclable material components of the recyclable material stream in step a3) is carried out by impact separation using at least one impact separator.

[0032] Finally, it is also particularly advantageous if the separation of further shredded foreign material components from the material stream leaving the second shredding unit is carried out by classifying them using a classifying device. This immediately separates the shredded foreign material components according to different sizes, masses, and / or materials, thus facilitating the recycling of these materials.

[0033] The part of the problem relating to the device is solved by the device having the features of claim 11.

[0034] A device for carrying out a method according to the invention is provided with a comminution and separation arrangement, a suspension mixing arrangement, a wet grinding arrangement comprising a mill and a dewatering and drying arrangement, wherein the wet grinding device comprises a wet separation device downstream of the mill in the direction of flow of the material stream.

[0035] It is particularly advantageous if the comminution and separation arrangement is designed in multiple stages and includes a first coarse comminution device, a first separation and separating device downstream in the direction of flow of the material stream, a second comminution device downstream in the direction of flow of the material stream, and a second separation and separating device downstream in the direction of flow of the material stream.

[0036] Preferably, the first separation device comprises a first magnetic separator.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the second separation device preferably includes a second magnetic separator.

[0038] It is particularly advantageous if the second separation device has an eddy current separator.

[0039] Preferred embodiments of the invention with additional design details and further advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] It shows: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a device according to the invention for carrying out a first variant of the method according to the invention and Fig. 2 a flowchart of a second variant of the method according to the invention. PRESENTATION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION EXAMPLES

[0041] Fig. Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of a device 100 for recovering mineral substrates from recyclable materials W containing artificially produced mineral fibers. The device comprises – in the direction of the recyclable material flow through the device – a comminution and separation arrangement 1, a suspension mixing arrangement 2, a wet grinding arrangement 3, and a dewatering and drying arrangement 4.

[0042] In step a1), the recyclable materials W are fed as a material stream W1 to a first coarse shredding unit 11 via a material feed 10, which is shown here only schematically and includes, for example, a conveying device. The first coarse shredding unit 11 reduces the recyclable materials W and is, for example, a shredder, a tearing unit, or a plucking unit. In addition to the mineral substrates, the material stream W1 can also contain other materials, such as remnants of paper or plastic laminations, metal wires or staples, and brick, mortar, or concrete residues.

[0043] The tearing or pulling device provided in the coarse shredding unit 11 separates the mineral substrates in the recycling stream from the other components of the recycling stream and separates them; for example, mineral wool components are fiberized there.

[0044] In the direction of flow of the material stream W2 leaving the first coarse crushing unit 11, a first separation and separating unit 12 with various mechanical separation and separating means known to those skilled in the art is provided downstream of the first coarse crushing unit 11 for carrying out process step a2). Immediately following the first coarse crushing unit 11, a preferably moving coarse screen 12' is provided, which is designed, for example, as a vibrating screen or a rotating drum screen, and onto or into which the recyclable material components exiting the coarse crushing unit 11 fall. Coarse, foreign recyclable material components, such as stones and mortar lumps, are retained there, and the crushed, fibrous recyclable material components pass through this coarse screen.

[0045] The recyclable materials passing through the coarse screen 12' fall onto a first transport device 13, which is, for example, a chute or a conveyor belt. Above this first transport device 13, a first magnetic separator 14 is provided, which extracts recyclable materials consisting of a magnetizable metal such as iron (e.g., staples, nails, screws, wires) from the recyclable material stream W2.

[0046] The coarsely shredded recyclable material components of the material stream W2 leaving the first transport unit 13 are fed in step a3) to a subsequent second shredding unit 15, where they are further shredded and fiberized. This shredding unit 15 includes, for example, an impact separator, also known as an impact reactor, or is formed by an impact separator.

[0047] In the direction of flow of the material stream W3 leaving the second comminution device 15, a second separation and separating device 16 with different mechanical separation and separating means known to the skilled person is provided downstream of the second comminution device 15 for carrying out process step a4) for the execution of process step a4). This device may form or have a classifying device.

[0048] Immediately following the second shredding unit 15, a further, finer-mesh sieve 16' is provided, onto which the further shredded recyclable materials exiting the second shredding unit 15 fall. Coarser recyclable materials are retained and removed by this finer-mesh sieve 16'. The second separation unit 16 can also be designed as a moving sieve 16', for example as a vibrating sieve or a rotating drum sieve, or may include one.

[0049] The recyclable materials passing through the finer-mesh sieve 16' fall onto a second transport device 17, which may be, for example, a chute or a conveyor belt. A second magnetic separator 18 is provided above this second transport device 17, which extracts recyclable materials consisting of a magnetizable metal such as iron (e.g., fragments of staples, nails, screws, wires) that are still contained in the recyclable material stream W3.

[0050] Both the first separation and separating unit 12 and the second separation and separating unit 16 can alternatively or additionally have an air classifier with which lighter lamination residues made of paper or plastic can be separated.

[0051] The further comminuted recyclable components of the material stream W3 exiting the second transport unit 17 are conveyed into a process vessel 20 of the suspension mixing arrangement, where, in step b), they are mixed with water or a water-containing fluid to form a suspension. The water or water-containing fluid is introduced from a fluid tank 21 into the process vessel 20 via a fluid line 22 by means of a pump (not shown). The suspension prepared in the process vessel 20, which contains the comminuted mineral fiber-containing recyclable components, is conveyed as material stream W4 into a mill 30 of the wet grinding arrangement 3, where the suspension is wet-ground for a predetermined period. The mineral fiber-containing recyclable components are further comminuted until they reach a particle size that is harmless to health.This grinding process can be carried out with a single mill or with several mills arranged in a cascade.

[0052] Once the grinding process is complete, the ground suspension is discharged from mill 30 to a wet separation unit 32 as material stream W5 in step d). In this wet separation unit 32, which includes, for example, a sieve and / or a hydrocyclone as a separating agent, the valuable material components that have reached a particle size or grain size that is harmless to health and thus form a harmless mineral substrate are separated from the suspension stream. The portion of the suspension containing the unremoved valuable material components is returned to mill 30 via a return line 34 and ground again.

[0053] The portion of the suspension stream separated in the wet separation unit 32, containing the valuable material components which, as a mineral substrate, have reached a particle size or grain size that is harmless to health, is fed as material stream W6 to a dewatering unit 40, formed, for example, by a dewatering conveyor belt 42 of the dewatering and drying arrangement 4, in which the water or water-containing fluid can flow or drip off the particles of the mineral substrate. The mineral substrate thus obtained is then dried by means of a drying unit 44 and exits the device 100 as a dry powder P.

[0054] The water or water-containing fluid separated during drainage in the drainage device 40 is collected and returned to the fluid tank 21 via a fluid return line 46 and, if necessary, cleaned before being introduced into the fluid tank 21.

[0055] Below is an application example of the method according to the invention, which is carried out with the device described above: In the process according to the invention, in a first step, mineral wools, for example in the form of molded parts or mats, are shredded and coarse impurities such as plaster fragments, wooden parts, bottles and beverage cans are separated. Larger ferromagnetic components are separated in this step by means of magnetic separation.

[0056] In this first separation step, coarse particles and mineral wool recyclables are separated from each other using, for example, a sieve with a mesh size suitable for effectively separating coarser components of the recyclable material stream. The mineral wool is in a size suitable for subsequent processing. In the shredder, the mineral wool recyclables are separated into three fractions: mineral wool, waste, and ferromagnetic components. This separation is achieved, for example, using a drum screen or another non-static screen.

[0057] Following this, the mineral wool undergoes a second mechanical processing and shredding step. Any remaining impurities in the mineral wool mixture are also shredded. Laminating materials initially remain in the mass flow.

[0058] The inventive method can also be used to treat fiber composite elements bonded with mineral binders, for example acoustic panels. This requires additional processing and the separation of components such as perlite.

[0059] Furthermore, the process according to the invention can also be used to treat mineral wools that are directly recycled as wool. In this case, a shortened process is used. Mineral wools that have been used as planting substrate could be treated in this way.

[0060] Following this second step, ferromagnetic impurities and non-magnetic metallic components are selectively removed from the mineral wool mixture. The metallic impurities are in a form suitable for recycling. Using a conveying system, preferably encapsulated to prevent the release of any potentially hazardous substances, the fractions intended for further processing are fed to an impact reactor as a second comminution unit.

[0061] The impact reactor is suitable for separating materials with different viscosities. It consists of a cylindrical casing in which a rotor equipped with impact elements rotates. The impact reactor has corresponding inlet and outlet openings. The outlet opening is equipped with a classifier. The mesh size of the classifier is suitable for the subsequent process step. The impact reactor discharges the treated material onto a conveyor belt.

[0062] After passing through the impact reactor, ferromagnetic impurities are removed again using an overband magnet, and non-magnetic metallic components are separated using an eddy current separator. The material to be processed is then mixed with water, for example, to form a pulp suspension. This pulp is pumped into a mill, where it is ground to a particle size specified for subsequent processing.

[0063] The pulp is preferably fed into a tank containing microorganisms in an additional process step and exposed, for example, to a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. At a pH value between 4 and 8 and a maximum temperature of 50°C, the binders adhering to the surface of the fibers at specific points—mostly formaldehyde-phenolic resins, but also starch- and sugar-based products—are metabolically converted by these microorganisms. To avoid undesirable side effects that are toxic to the microorganisms, it is important that metallic impurities, especially those containing aluminum, are removed from the mineral wool mixture beforehand. The treatment duration depends on the binder concentration and the desired result. The treatment duration can be specified as 2 to 7 days. Shorter or longer treatment durations do not appear to be economically viable.

[0064] The treatment takes place in a tank equipped with a device to keep the added pulp in suspension. Such a tank may, for example, have a diffuse air injection system at the bottom. Mechanical agitators can also be used, but these cause agglomeration of the added mineral fibers. The treatment tanks are equipped with a bottom-mounted discharge device for shot and other settled solid components.

[0065] Following the grinding process in the mill, the material is separated into several phases using a suitable device, such as a hydrocyclone or a sieve. The so-called "shot" is separated from the incoming mineral wool mixture. Furthermore, fiber components of a size unsuitable for subsequent fine grinding are separated and recycled.

[0066] The suspended material containing mineral fibers, suitable for subsequent fine grinding, is fed by a pump to the mill designed as a fine grinding unit, for example, a stirred ball mill. During this grinding process, the mineral fibers fed into the grinding device do not experience a significant reduction in diameter, but primarily in length.

[0067] Mineral fibers used in construction have a fiber diameter ranging from 2 to 9 µm. Glass fibers used in the production of GRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic) components have a fiber diameter ranging from 2 to 24 µm. The achievable fineness of the fibers is therefore lower than the threshold at which they must be classified as "hazardous." This threshold corresponds to a length-to-diameter ratio of more than 3:1. Another criterion is respirability. Fiber dust is considered respirable if the fiber length is greater than 5 µm and its diameter is less than 3 µm.

[0068] Following fine grinding in the mill, the ground material is separated into two phases using a suitable device, for example a hydrocyclone or a sieve: a first, harmless phase or fraction, which has a particle size or grain size that ensures the safety of the material in accordance with the relevant WHO guidelines, and a second, potentially harmful phase or fraction, which is returned to the mill inlet.

[0069] The fraction that meets WHO guidelines for safe handling is subjected to single- or multi-stage dewatering and drying. Dewatering can be carried out using a comb filter press or a decanter. Drying can be done using warm air or microwaves.

[0070] The separation of the synthetic resin binders from the mineral components preferably occurs mechanically through a grinding process and through the biological degradation of the resins by microorganisms, such as bacteria. During the grinding process, energy is introduced into the mineral fibers, causing them to heat up. Mechanical shear forces lead to the splintering of the individual fibers and thus to the detachment of the relatively brittle synthetic resin binders, which are applied by spraying during the production of bonded mineral wool products. The binders remaining on the surface and the detached binder particles are then degraded by microorganisms.

[0071] In the process according to the invention, wash water is recirculated and purified via osmosis. The resulting activated sludge is either dewatered and sent to a sewage sludge incineration plant or discharged as wastewater, depending on legal regulations. Other uses, such as fertilizer, are also possible.

[0072] One in Fig. 2. A schematically illustrated modified variant of the inventive method for treating non-biopersistent (non-hazardous) or biopersistent (hazardous) mineral fiber-containing valuable materials comprises at least the following steps: 101) Provision of non-hazardous, non-biopersistent mineral fiber-containing recyclables or 102) Provision of hazardous biopersistent mineral fiber-containing recyclables; 103) Coarse sieving of the mineral fiber-containing recyclables provided in step 101 or 102; 104) Dissolving the recyclable materials containing mineral fibers by means of a mechanical device, for example a shredder, which shreds the recyclable materials containing mineral fibers provided in step 101 or 102, for example in bales, rolls or other packaging; 105) Reduction of the dissolved bales into approximately palm-sized pieces (dissolution and reduction can be carried out in one or more steps) and removal of coarse components by means of a sieve, preferably a rotary tube sieve; 106) Removal of ferromagnetic components; 107) Decide whether non-ferromagnetic metallic components are present; if not, add the valuable materials to step 110; 108) In the presence of non-ferromagnetic metallic impurities: Feeding the valuable materials into a device which enables the agglomeration of metallic components and separation of the metal from fibrous components, preferably in an impact reactor or an impact mill; 109) Removal of the non-ferromagnetic metallic components from the waste stream and feeding the waste materials to step 110; 110) Grinding the valuable materials in a mill, preferably in a vortex mill; 111) Determine whether organic binder components are present on the fibers in the recycling stream; if not, 117) Decide whether the material stream contains hazardous biopersistent mineral fiber-containing recyclables; if not, remove the recyclables from the process in step 118; 119) If the waste stream contains hazardous biopersistent mineral fiber-containing waste materials, the fiber-containing waste materials are suspended in water with a solids content of preferably 15 - 25% solids to form a suspension and the suspension is then transported to fine wet milling in step 116; 112) If, in step 111), it is determined that organic binder components are present on the fibers in the waste stream, the fiber-containing waste materials are slurried with water with a solids content of preferably 15 - 25% solids to form a suspension and then the waste stream is transported to step 113); 113) Transfer of the suspension into a bioreactor for the degradation of the binders; 114) Decide whether the suspension stream discharged from the bioreactor contains hazardous biopersistent mineral fiber-containing valuable materials; if not, dry the mineral fiber suspension in step 115) and remove the dried fibers from the process; 116) If the suspension stream contains hazardous biopersistent mineral fiber-containing valuable materials, fine wet grinding of the biopersistent fibers contained in the suspension in a suitable mill, preferably in a ball mill; 120) Decide whether the final product to be discharged in step 122 should be dry; if not, forward the finely wet-milled suspension to the final discharge step 122); 121) If the final product to be discharged is to be dry, dry the finely wet-milled suspension and discharge the dried final product in the final discharge step 122).

[0073] Reference numerals in the claims, description and drawings serve only to improve understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. Reference symbol list

[0074] It refers to: 1. Comminution and separation arrangement 2 Suspension mixing arrangement 3 Wet grinding arrangement 4. Drainage and drying arrangement 10 Recycling input 11 Coarse shredding unit 12 First separation and separating device 12' Coarse sieve 13 first transport device 14 first magnetic separator 15 second shredding unit 16 second separation and separating unit 16' finer mesh sieve 17 second transport device 18 second magnetic separator 19 eddy current separators 20 process tanks 21 Fluid tank 22 Fluid line 30 Mill 32 Wet separation unit 34 Return line 40 Drainage system 42 Drainage conveyor belt 44 Drying equipment 46 Fluid return line 100 Device P Powder W Recyclable material W1 Recycling stream W2 Recycling stream W3 waste stream W4 waste stream W5 Recycling stream W6 Recycling stream

Claims

A process for recovering mineral substrates from materials (W) containing artificial mineral fibers, characterized by the following steps: a) comminution of the materials (W) and separation of fiber materials containing artificial mineral fibers; b) mixing of the separated fiber materials with water or a water-containing fluid to form a free-flowing suspension; c) feeding the suspension to a mill (30) and grinding the suspension; d) removing the ground suspension from the mill and separating solids from the suspension that are smaller than a predetermined particle size; e) dewatering and drying of the solids separated in step d). The method according to claim 1, characterized in that step a) of comminution and separation of the fiber recyclables containing artificially produced mineral fibers is carried out in the following sub-steps: a1) feeding a stream of recyclables (W1) containing artificially produced mineral fibers to a first coarse comminution device (11) and coarse comminution of the recyclables (W) in the coarse comminution device (11); a2) separating coarsely comminuted foreign recyclable components, in particular non-fibrous recyclable components, from the coarsely comminuted stream of recyclables (W2) leaving the first coarse comminution device (11) in a first separation and separating device (12);a3) Feeding the coarsely shredded recyclable components of the recyclable material stream (W2) to a second shredding unit (15) and further shredding of the coarsely shredded recyclable components of the recyclable material stream (W2) and a4) separating further shredded foreign recyclable components, in particular non-fibrous recyclable components, from the recyclable material stream (W3) leaving the second shredding unit (15) and separating the fibrous recyclables containing artificially produced mineral fibers from the recyclable material stream (W3) of the further shredded recyclable components by means of a second separation and separating unit (16).; Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the separation of the coarsely crushed foreign material components in step a2) also includes the separation of coarsely crushed ferromagnetic substances from the coarsely crushed material stream (W2). Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the separation of the further reduced foreign material components in step a4) also includes the separation of ferromagnetic substances from the further reduced material stream (W3). Method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the separation of the further reduced in size of the foreign material components in step a4) also includes the separation of non-magnetic metallic substances from the further reduced in size of the material stream (W3). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during the separation of solids from the suspension in step d), the solids from the suspension which are larger than the specified particle size are returned to the mill (30) for step c) and fed back to the mill (30) in step c). Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that coarse comminution of the recyclable materials (W) of the recyclable material stream (W1) in the coarse comminution device (11) in step a1) is carried out by shredding the recyclable materials (W) in a shredder. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the separation of the coarsely crushed foreign material components is carried out by sieving in step a2) using a sieving device which preferably has a moving sieve (12'), in particular a drum sieve. Method according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the further comminution of the coarsely comminuted recyclable material components of the recyclable material stream (W2) in step a3) is carried out by impact separation using at least one impact separator. Method according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that further reduced in size foreign material components are separated from the material stream (W3) leaving the second comminution device (15) by classifying using a classifying device. Apparatus for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 10 comprising a comminution and separation arrangement (1), a suspension mixing arrangement (2), a wet grinding arrangement (3) comprising a mill (30) and a dewatering and drying arrangement (4), characterized in that the wet grinding device (3) comprises a wet separation device (32) downstream of the mill (30) in the direction of flow of the material stream. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the comminution and separation arrangement (1) is designed in multiple stages and comprises a first coarse comminution device (11), a first separation and separating device (12) downstream of this in the direction of flow of the material stream, a second comminution device (15) downstream of this in the direction of flow of the material stream and a second separation and separating device (16) downstream of this in the direction of flow of the material stream. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the first separation device (12) comprises a first magnetic separator (14). Device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the second separation device (16) has a second magnetic separator (18). Device according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the second separation device (16) comprises an eddy current separator (19).

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