Contaminated Plastic Cleaning via Water-Acetate Mixture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plastic recycling processes are energy-intensive and environmentally unfriendly due to high temperatures, pressures, and the use of combustible or flammable solvents, making them inefficient and hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning process using a physical mixture of water and an organic acetate solvent, such as octyl acetate, at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, which effectively removes contaminants from plastic materials without the need for energy-intensive conditions or hazardous solvents, allowing for the recycling of both the plastic and solvents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cleaning processes use high temperatures and high pressures, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning system by using a specific solvent mixture (aqueous alkaline solution with acetate esters) that enables effective cleaning at lower temperatures and pressures, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acetate esters as intermediary substances that mediate between the aqueous phase and organic contaminants, enhancing the cleaning mechanism through synergistic action and enabling effective contaminant removal under milder conditions
2Reliability
If conventional cleaning processes use combustible or flammable solvents, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but environmental safety worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing combustible solvents with acetate esters that have lower flammability and better environmental profiles, while maintaining or improving cleaning effectiveness through synergistic action with aqueous alkaline solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biodegradable acetate esters that can be easily broken down and disposed of environmentally friendly, replacing persistent and hazardous conventional solvents with substances that have minimal environmental impact
3Reliability
If conventional cleaning processes use alkaline pH and elevated temperature, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but environmental friendliness worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces acetate esters as intermediary substances that enhance the cleaning mechanism through synergistic action with aqueous alkaline solutions, enabling effective contaminant removal under milder and more environmentally friendly conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the pH and temperature parameters by using acetate ester-based cleaning systems that achieve effective cleaning at lower temperatures and milder pH levels, reducing environmental impact while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process efficiently removes contaminants from plastic materials at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure, reducing environmental impact and enabling the recycling of solvents, thus minimizing ecological footprint and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a contaminated plastic material is contacted with a physical mixture of liquid phase 1 and liquid phase 2 and wherein the solvent of liquid phase 1 is water and the solvent of liquid phase 2 is an organic phase comprising an acetate
Implementation Method 2
liquid phase 1 and liquid phase 2 are allowed to separate into their respective phases
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a an environmentally friendly process for cleaning a contaminated plastic material for recycling comprising a cleaning step B wherein a contaminated plastic material is contacted with a physical mixture of liquid phase 1 and liquid phase 2 and wherein the solvent of liquid phase 1 is water and the solvent of liquid phase 2 is an organic phase comprising an acetate.