PETpla.net Insider 03 / 2021

MATERIALS / RECYCLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 18 No. 0/17 www.petpla.net 21 Improving PET bottle-to-bottle recycling Next Generation Recycling- maschinen GmbH (NGR) has been a technology leader in technology Liquid State Polycondensation (LSP) for years. In the NGR process, all impuri- ties are removed from the PET melt already in the liquid phase to such an extent that the necessary require- ments for food packaging (EFSA & FDA approved), including water bottle grade, are achieved. Since the propor- tion of recycled material in food pack- aging is to be signi fi cantly increased, especially in the beverage bottle and tray production sector, numerous projects of NGR have been completed and are currently being implemented con fi rm the effectiveness and ef fi ciency of the process. By mid-2021, plants for processing post-consumer PET will be operating on every continent. Compared to conventional systems, the NGR process offers an energy- ef fi cient and, in terms of melt quality, better physical cleaning process, said NGR. The intrinsic viscosity (iV value) is constantly measured and adjusted to the customer’s target value via automated control of the vacuum unit. This makes it possible to fi ne-tune the material quality to the customer’s product speci fi cations, including ultra-tight IV control, which is essential for downstream produc- tion. For the operator, time-consuming batch production is eliminated and no cost-intensive additional processes are required. Thus, no additions of nitrogen or similar process aids are required for iV increase. The ef fi ciency of LSP technol- ogy is demonstrated by direct coupling with production processes such as fi lm manufacture, spun yarn production or the manufacture of preforms for subse- quent bottle production. This eliminates a complete re-melting step and the asso- ciated iV degradation resulting from a downstream process. The elimination of the pelletising process again signi fi cantly increases energy ef fi ciency. To better demonstrate the LSP pro- cess and carry out customer trials, NGR is expanding the PET pilot plant with an additional line. Customers will thus have two LSP lines available for testing purposes at NGR from March 2021, so that both bottle-to-bottle trials and other applications can be successfully tested. This will enable all customers the chance to personally convince themselves of the ef fi cient LSP process on their own materials. www.ngr-world.com NO. ONE-WAY PRODUCTION. YES. TOP QUALITY RECYCLING. How can your recycled product meet permanently increasing demands? With the CHT range of high performance process solutions with environmental relief for the wet chemical cleaning. We support you directly on site and ensure your quality controls in our laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment. Thus, your strong position in the growing market is confirmed day by day. More about us at www.cht.com