Fine Regeneration of ABS and PS Plastics from Waste Refrigerators through Mechanical Physical Recycling

Abstract

The regeneration of plastic components from waste refrigerators is an inevitable trend for sustainable social development. However, the technical process and practical verification of industrial recycling of plastics from waste refrigerators are missing and are undisclosed. In this study, a detailed industrial physical sorting process route for the purification and regeneration of ABS and PS in waste refrigerators was revealed. The residual glass content in recycled ABS and PS flakes is 0.013 and 0.019 wt %, and the residual metal content is 0.17 and 0.21 wt %, respectively. Based on large-scale statistical analysis of real production line data, the feasibility and reliability of the purification and regeneration process route for ABS and PS in this study were verified. The average impact values of recycled white and gray ABS are 11.7 and 12.05 kg/m 2 , and the average impact values of white and gray PS are 7.52 and 7.56 kg/m 2 . Through the analysis of bromine and typical heavy metal elements, the recycled PS and ABS flakes were proven to meet the commercial standard requirements of RoHS 2.0. Meanwhile, based on the material flow analysis, suggestions and guidance were proposed. In summary, this study provides effective technical inspiration for industrial regeneration of waste refrigerator plastics.

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