Treatment of PET recyclates
K trade fair went much better than expected for plant manufacturers – great interest in IR clean system for rPET
Kreyenborg draws a positive conclusion after the K trade fair. The plant manufacturer recorded increased demand for its infrared technology for the treatment of PET recyclates. The new European Packaging Regulation, with its quality and safety requirements, especially when it comes into contact with food, is leading to growing interest in Kreyenborg’s FDA and EFSA-approved technology for rPET.
“Our two-stage recycling process with infrared met with great interest at the K trade fair,” says Udo Gielen, CEO at Kreyenborg, drawing a positive balance after the trade fair and explaining the advantage: “With our plant, lengthy approval procedures are a thing of the past, as our IR Clean process is already recognised as mechanical recycling by a positive Scientific Opinion from EFSA.” The IR Clean technology is based on a two-stage cleaning process for PET and post-consumer flakes for food packaging, among other things.
First step: IR-Clean/ FDA approval
The regrind on PET bottles or packaging, pre-sorted and washed by the supplier, is fed into Kreyenborg’s infrared rotary drum via a volumetric dosing system. A welded-in helix with mixing elements in the rotary drum ensures transport and continuous and homogeneous mixing of the material under the infrared light. The rotation of the drum and the mixing elements, which are integrated in welded-in spirals, continuously mix the rPET. The circulation ensures that the surface is permanently replaced and heated. The moisture from the recyclate is removed by a constant flow of air. On average, the material leaves the Kreyenborg plant in minutes. Conventional processes usually take hours to dry the recyclate. After the first step of the IR Clean process, the rPET complies with the US FDA requirements.
Second step: IR-Clean+/ EFSA approval
“A second step is necessary to meet EFSA’s European criteria,” explains Marcus Vogt, Technical Sales Manager at Kreyenborg. It is thanks to his commitment that the Kreyenborg IR-Clean process has been approved by the European Food Authority. Vogt is referring to the additional step of the process “IR-Clean+”. The “+” stands for a dry air system that is used downstream of the infrared rotary drum and acts as a “finisher” to further reduce the contamination of the recyclate. This means that up to 100 percent of the recycled material can be recycled for packaging that comes into contact with food. Another positive side effect is that the residual moisture of the material is reduced to less than 50 ppm.
Confirmation of commitment to the circular economy
“We were confirmed in our commitment at K, infrared technology was constantly developed in line with the circular economy, and the decontamination of recycled PET flakes with the IR-Clean process was further optimized”, was Udo Gielen’s conclusion after the K. All stand employees felt that global interest in infrared technology was growing. Visitors from India and Brazil in particular have shown interest in the Kreyenborg technology because it meets the requirements of the US authorities as well as the even stricter requirements of the European supervisory authority.