Method and equipment for conditioning a heavy fraction high in plastics

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/893,785, filed on Sep. 29, 2010, which is a continuation of PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2009/001699, filed on Mar. 10, 2009, each of which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

The present application claims priority to Application No. 10 2008 016 417.8, filed in the Federal Republic of Germany on Mar. 31, 2008, and to Application No. 10 2009 009 873.9, filed in the Federal Republic of Germany on Feb. 20, 2009, each of which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

The present invention relates to a method and equipment for conditioning a heavy fraction high in plastics. For example, the present invention relates to a method and equipment for refining a heavy fraction that has been produced during the conditioning of low-metal material mixtures high in plastics, especially a heavy fraction high in plastics having an average bulk material weight of >0.3 t/m 3 .

A method for the conditioning of shredder residues is described, for example, in European Published Patent Application No. 1 332 001. In the method described there therein, in separate preprocessings, conditioning of a light shredder fraction and conditioning of a heavy shredder fraction take place. During the preprocessing of the conditioning of the light shredder fraction, after isolating a foam fraction there takes place a size reduction of the remaining fraction to form a discharge of <50 mm. A ferromagnetic fraction is separated from the reduced size fraction. The remaining nonferromagnetic fraction is fed to a second size reduction process, in which an additional breaking down of the material takes place. From the material that has been well broken down, a sand fraction of <4 mm is separated in a subsequent method step. The remaining fraction undergoes air sizing and density separation, and thus the fraction is separated into a light fraction of lint and a heavy fraction. The heavy shredder fraction is submitted to a separation of the ferromagnetic components. There follows a size classification of the residual flow and the segregation of the nonferrous metal-containing fraction. This may be accomplished in such a way that first a size classification takes place into greater than and less than 20 mm, and these fractions are separately fed to the metal separator. The main point, in this context, is that as clean a substance separation as possible takes place into a nonferrous metal-containing fraction and a remaining fraction that is low in metal. In a subsequent classification the segregation of a sand fraction takes place having a grain diameter less than 6 mm. The remaining coarse grain fraction that is low in metal is subsequently split up into a heavy fraction and a highly dense residual fraction. In the subsequent main process, the heavy fractions (raw granulate) from the two preprocessings are combined. These combined fractions are first broken down in an additional size reduction step. After the size reduction, there is a density separation and the isolation of a fraction consisting predominantly of plastic in a granulated form. The raw granulate present is then conditioned in an additional refining process. In the refining process, there is first a surface purification using water, in an attrition process. In this case, dust that contains heavy metals and adheres to the surface is washed off and concentrated in a sludge fraction. The washed granulate is then dried. After this treatment step, an all-metal separator may optionally be provided, which can separate out the last metal particles contained in the granulate, e.g., copper strands. The granulate thus pretreated is submitted to an electrostatic charging of the granules by friction, which makes possible a PVC isolation, and a granulate fraction is obtained that is low in chlorine and metal, and is able to be fed to material utilization.

Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method and equipment, using which a heavy fraction low in metal, that has been produced during the conditioning of low-metal material mixtures high in plastics, is refined such that a highly pure end product is obtained for material utilization.

In the method according to an example embodiment of the present invention for conditioning a heavy fraction high in plastics (raw granulate), which has been created in the conditioning of low-metal material mixtures high in plastics substantially by isolating a light plastic fraction (raw lint), at least the following processes are performed one after the other: (a) isolating of metal parts still present, especially such metal parts as were broken down during the conditioning of the low-metal material mixtures high in plastics; (b) reducing the size of the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics that remains after the metal isolation; (c) splitting up the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics, remaining after the metal isolation, into several, e.g., three factions high in plastics, of different grain sizes; and (d) conditioning the separated fractions high in plastics in at least partially separate process steps.

Because of the splitting up of the heavy fraction high in plastics into several fractions high in plastics, having different grain sizes, and their separate conditioning, a prerequisite is created for obtaining highly pure end fractions at the end of the process, whereby, in turn, improved material utilization is made possible.

The conditioning of the separated fractions that are high in plastics may run at least partially in similar processes, which makes possible an improved process control.

The remaining fraction high in plastics may be split up into a first fraction high in plastics, having a grain size in the range of about 0 to 1.7 mm, e.g., having a grain size in the range of about 0 to 1.5 mm, a second fraction high in plastics, having a grain size of about 1.3 mm to 4.2 mm, e.g., in the range of about 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, and a third fraction high in plastics, having a grain size of about 3.8 mm to 7.2 mm, e.g., having a grain size of about 4.0 mm to 7.0 mm.

The splitting up of the remaining fraction high in plastics into three fractions high in plastics having different grain sizes is not absolutely necessary. One may, for instance, also split up into two or even four fractions high in plastics, then having somewhat different grain size ranges. However, splitting up into three fractions high in plastics (as mentioned above) is believed to be particularly advantageous.

The heavy fraction high in plastics, that is to be conditioned, on average may have a bulk material weight >0.2 t/m 3 , e.g., a bulk material weight clearly more than 0.4 t/m 3 .

The separation of the metal parts may take place in two different process steps. In the first process step, the ferromagnetic components of the low-metal fraction high in plastics are separated, and in the second process step, the non-ferromagnetic metal parts. This makes possible a more uniform isolation which, in turn, ensures an improved raw material use of the individual metals.

As the method for isolating the non-ferromagnetic metal parts, eddy current separation may be used and also methods of sensitive metal separation based on the electrical conductivity of the non-ferromagnetic metal parts. The latter method has the advantage that, besides broken down ferromagnetic metal parts, high-grade steel, lead and non-broken down metals are able to be separated. Besides that, the individual metals may be separated separately from one another, and thus may be fed more simply to material utilization.

It may be provided that, after the separating of the metal parts, a process step is provided for separating polyvinyl chloride (PVC), that is high in chlorine, e.g., via the different absorbability of the individual plastics of X-ray radiation.

After the process steps of separating metal parts or separating polyvinyl chloride, there follows the process step of reducing in size the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics to a grain size smaller than, or equal to 8 mm, e.g., smaller than, or equal to 7 mm, this process step being the prerequisite for the separation of the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics into fractions of different grain size. A size reduction method is used in this context, which makes possible breaking down the metals not yet broken down which are contained in the heavy fraction high in plastics at a percentage of >95%, e.g., >99%. The process of size reduction may also be applied in several stages, such as two stages, in each case intermediate buffering being possible. For instance, it is possible to carry out a size reduction to a grain size less than, or equal to 14 mm, e.g., less than, or equal to 12 mm, and subsequently (perhaps after intermediate buffering) a second size reduction to a grain size less than, or equal to 8 mm, e.g., less than, or equal to 7 mm.

The method may include a process step for separating raw lint, e.g., having an average bulk material weight of <0.3 t/m 3 , for example, <0.2 t/m 3 , and/or wood particles.

The method may include the splitting up of the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics by sifting, e.g., using at least three sieve layers having different sizes of hole. Sizes of hole or 7.0 mm, 4.0 mm and 1.5 mm may be used in this regard.

After the splitting up of the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics, a process may take place of isolating the raw lint and/or wood particles present for each of the fractions high in plastics of different grain or particle sizes created during the splitting up of the fraction high in plastics. In this case one may do without the isolation of the raw lint and the metal parts before splitting up the heavy fractions high in plastics.

During the conditioning of the separated fraction high in plastics, it may be further provided that the separated fractions high in plastics, separately from each other, undergo a process of density separation, different end or intermediate products being created by the density separation as a function of the fractions high in plastics. Thus, because of the density separation of the fraction high in plastics, having a grain size in the range of about 0 mm to 1.5 mm, there is created, on the one hand, a plastic material that is to be ground, which is, for example, processed further together with the raw lint created during the conditioning of the low-metal plastic scrap having an average bulk material weight <0.2 t/m 3 . In addition, there is created a fraction including, at least for the most part, non-ferromagnetic metal parts.

During the density separation of the fraction high in plastics, having a grain size in the range of about 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, there is created a prerefined granulate fraction as well as a non-ferromagnetic metal fraction, which in subsequent process steps may be split up into their individual metal types, e.g., by sifting. One part of the metal fraction thus split up is processed further with a metal fraction that is created during the density separation of the fraction high in plastics having a grain size of about 4.0 mm to 7.0 mm (also see below). The further processing in common may take place by optical sorting, in which the common metal fraction is split up into its individual metal types. An impact treatment may be inserted before the optical sorting, so as to achieve the balling up of the copper strands. This makes possible an increase in efficiency of the optical sorting.

Before the sifting, the non-ferromagnetic metal fractions, created by the density separations in the range of about 1.5 mm to 7.0 mm, may be fed to a segregation of ferromagnetic components, so as possibly to be able to separate, from the non-ferromagnetic metal fractions, still present small section steel (e.g., fine metal wires) and thus increase their degree of purity. Thus, under certain circumstances, there may still be a small proportion of small section steel in the non-ferromagnetic metal fractions, of up to 5%.

As an intermediate product of the density separation of the fraction high in plastics having a grain size of about 4.0 mm to 7.0 mm, there is also created a ferromagnetic metal fraction which is at least partially conditioned together with the metal fraction created during the density separation of the fraction high in plastics having a grain size in the range of about 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm. As a second intermediate product there is created a prerefined granulate fraction, that is, for example, conditioned in common with the granulate fraction which is created by the density separation of the fraction high in plastics having the average grain size.

During the conditioning, the granulate fractions, individually or in common, are submitted to surface purification to remove dust and/or operating fluids (especially fats and oils, which may have already partially diffused into the plastics parts). For example, a process follows the surface purification for isolating a polyvinyl chloride fraction (PVC), especially by wet density separation, as well as a process for separating polyolefins, especially by wet density separation. In a following process step, the rubber parts present may be removed, or may at least be greatly reduced, from the granulate fraction, that has already been greatly refined, by electrostatic isolation. The granulate fraction thus refined, if necessary, may be further reduced in size or ground up, if subsequent processes require it.

The equipment, or system, according to an example embodiment of the present invention for conditioning a heavy fraction high in plastics (raw granulate), that was created during the conditioning of low-metal material mixtures high in plastics, has devices using which one is able to carry out these successive processes: (a) separating metal parts from the heavy fraction high in plastics, and obtaining a plastics fraction reduced in metal; (b) reducing the size of the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics that remains after the separation of the metal parts; (c) splitting up the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics, that remains after the separation of the metal parts, into plastics fractions having different grain sizes; and (d) conditioning the separated fractions high in plastics at least partially in different processes.

Because of the splitting up of the heavy fraction high in plastics into several fractions high in plastics, having different grain sizes, and their separate conditioning, a process prerequisite is created for obtaining highly pure end fractions at the end of the process, whereby, in turn, improved material utilization is made possible.

The device for splitting up the metal-reduced and size-reduced fraction high in plastics is provided such that a first fraction high in plastics, having a grain size in the range of about 0 to 1.7 mm, e.g., having a grain size of about 0 to 1.5 mm, a second fraction high in plastics, having a grain size of about 1.3 mm to 4.2 mm, e.g., in the range of about 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, and a third fraction high in plastics, having a grain size in the range of about 3.8 mm to 7.2 mm, e.g., having a grain size of about 4.0 mm to 7.0 mm are obtained.

The heavy and low-metal fraction high in plastics (raw granulate), that is to be conditioned, on average may have a bulk material weight >0.2 t/m 3 , e.g., a bulk material weight clearly >0.4 t/m 3 .

The device for separating the metal parts from the heavy and low-metal fraction high in plastics may include a device for separating ferromagnetic components in a first method step, e.g., a magnetic separator, particularly a magnetic drum or an overband magnet device as well as subsequently situated device for separating non-ferromagnetic metal parts, e.g., a device for eddy current segregation or for sensitive metal isolation based on the electrical conductivity of the metal parts.

Furthermore, it may be provided that a device for separating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that is high in chlorine, e.g., a separating device using X-rays, be subsequently situated to the device for separating metal parts.

The device for reducing in size the metal-reduced fraction high in plastics may be provided such that the fraction high in plastics is reduced in size so that one is able to achieve breaking down non-broken down metals, contained in the fraction, of >95%, e.g., 99%.

The device for reducing in size the metal-reduced fraction high in plastics may be provided such that reducing in size of the fraction high in plastics to a grain size less than, or equal to 8.0 mm, e.g., 7 mm, takes place.

After the device for reducing in size the metal-reduced fraction high in plastics, a device is provided for separating raw lint, especially having an average bulk material weight of <0.3 t/m 3 , e.g., a bulk material weight of <0.2 t/m 3 . It is not absolutely necessary to arrange for this arrangement at this point in the process sequence. There is also the possibility of arranging it after the splitting up of the metal-reduced fraction high in plastics into fractions high in plastics of different grain or particle size, separately for each of the fractions high in plastics obtained. For example, devices for air sifting are for separating raw lint.

A sifting device having at least three sieve layers of different sizes of hole may be provided as the device for separating the fractions high in plastics having different grain sizes.

After the splitting up of the metal-reduced fractions high in plastics into at least three fractions high in plastics of different grain sizes, or after running through the devices, possibly provided thereafter, for separating the raw lint and/or the wood particles, e.g., by density separation, separate devices may be provided for density separation of the individual separated fractions high in plastics. The device for density separation of the first separated fraction high in plastics, which may have a grain size of about 0 mm to 1.5 mm, is provided such that a non-ferromagnetic metal fraction and material to be ground are obtained. The device for density separation of the second separated fraction high in plastics, which may have a grain of about 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, and the device, separate from this, for density separation of the third separated fraction high in plastics, e.g., having a grain size of about 4.0 mm to 7.0 mm are provided such that in each case a non-ferromagnetic metal fraction and a prerefined granulate fraction is obtained as the end product, the metal fractions obtained and the granulate fractions obtained in each case being at least in part conditioned further in common.

A device for surface purification of the granulate fractions may be postconnected to the devices for density separation of the second and third fractions high in plastics. This device is arranged such that dust and/or operating fluids (especially fats and oils) sticking to the plastic particles are able to be removed. A device for separating polyvinyl chloride PVC) and after that, a device for separating polyolefins are postconnected in two stages to the device for surface purification, both device being, for example, provided as wet density separation devices. After the device for isolating polyolefins from the plastics fraction, a device is provided for separating rubber particles from the acceptable quality fraction.

Using the equipment described herein, a plastics granulate is obtained by conditioning a raw granulate that is produced by conditioning low metal waste high in plastics, which, based on its degree of purity, is able to be fed to a material utilization having high quality requirements.

Further features and aspects of example embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the appended Figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic flow chart of successive process steps for obtaining a light fraction high in plastics (raw lint) LF and a heavy fraction high in plastics (raw granulate) SF.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of successive process steps for conditioning the heavy fraction high in plastics (raw granulate) SF using a detail process III and a detail process IV.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart which shows detail process III of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart which shows detail process IV of FIG. 2 .

The schematic flow chart shown in FIG. 1 shows the process sequence during the conditioning of low-metal material mixtures KA that are high in plastics, for obtaining a heavy fraction SF high in plastics and a light fraction LF high in plastics which, for example, may be postconnected to a shredder process of scrap vehicles.

Besides low-metal material mixtures high in plastics from a shredder process, other material mixtures high in plastics may also be conditioned with the aid of the method and equipment described herein. In the exploitation of scrap vehicles, metal-containing scrap is initially broken down by a shredder in a, e.g., conventional, preconnected shredding process, by a size reduction process. A light shredder fraction SLF capable of flying is subsequently isolated by a suction device. The heavy material stream, that is not capable of flying, which remains after the suction, is separated on a magnetic separator, into a ferromagnetic and a non-ferromagnetic fraction. The ferromagnetic fraction is designated as shredder scrap, and represents the primary shredder product, which may be used directly in metallurgy. The remaining heavy non-ferromagnetic fraction is designated as heavy shredder fraction SSF.

The light shredder fraction SLF is conditioned further, by itself or together with the heavy shredder fraction SSF and perhaps with additional low-metal plastic material mixtures, and is designated as low-metal, high plastic scrap KA, when submitted to the process. These low-metal, high-plastic material mixtures have a metal proportion of <20%, e.g., a metal proportion of the order of magnitude of 5%.

One or more feed containers B 1 and/or B 2 are provided for the incoming supply of the low-metal, high-plastics mixed materials, in order to decouple the conditioning process, from upstream processes such as the shredder process.

In a first method step V 1 , the ferromagnetic components FE are separated, using a magnetic separator MA 1 , as a ferromagnetic fraction, which may then be fed to a metallurgical processing process, for the reutilization of the material. There then follows isolation V 2 of a first raw sand fraction RS 1 , using a sifting device SE 1 , which has a size of hole in the range of 10 to 12 mm in the exemplary embodiment. Because of the isolation of this raw sand fraction, the subsequent process steps are relieved with respect to the separated raw sand fraction. After method step V 2 there is a process step V 3 , “segregation of non-ferromagnetic metal components” (non-ferromagnetic metal fraction), such as copper, brass, aluminum, etc. A device ME 1 may be used for eddy current separation or for sensitive metal isolation based on the electric conductivity of the metal parts. Subsequent process step V 4 of the isolation of coarse components substantially reduces the wear in the next process step V 5 of the main size reduction. In process step V 4 , for isolating coarse components (heavy material) SG, device ST for heavy material separation, so-called air knife systems, may be used. After the isolation of the heavy material SG, in process step V 5 , a size reduction of the remaining fractions takes place, using a hammer mill MH. The size reduction takes place, in this instance, in that the volume of the light fraction (raw lint) LF contained in the remaining fractions is increased, whereby in a later process step V 7 an improved and purer fraction splitting up of the remaining fractions into a light fraction (raw lint) LF and a heavy fraction (raw granulate) SF is made possible. A device (WS) for air sifting is provided for splitting up the remaining fraction. The heavy fraction (raw granulate) SF created has an average bulk material weight >0.2 t/m 3 , e.g., clearly >0.4 t/m 3 . Between process step V 5 of size reduction, e.g., at 20 mm, and process step V 7 of splitting up the remaining fractions, a process step V 6 is provided, in which a second raw sand fraction RS 2 is separated using a sifting device SE 2 . The size of hole of sifting device SE 2 is, for example, in a range of 4 to 8 mm.

During the refinement, whose sequence is described in detail in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the raw granulate SF (heavy fraction) thus produced, in a first process step VG 1 , is submitted to the segregation of ferromagnetic components FE, which were broken down in process step V 5 during the size reduction. For this purpose, one may, for example, use a magnetic separator MA 2 , e.g., a magnetic drum or an overband magnetic device. This creates a metal-reduced fraction KF high in plastics, which still has a residual proportion of non-ferromagnetic metals NE and high-grade steel components NES. The non-ferromagnetic metals NE are separated in the next process step VG 2 , and so are high-grade steel components NES, depending on their type of conditioning. If, in this instance, a device for eddy current separation WA 1 is used, in this process step VG 2 the non-ferromagnetic metals, such as copper, brass, aluminum, etc., are separated, as long as these have been broken down, or rather exposed. Metallic components are separated in this instance, having a grain size >1 mm. A metal-reduced fraction KFA high in plastics remains, which, as far as metals are concerned, then still includes high-grade steel as well as metal components that were not broken down.

Alternatively, in process step VG 2 , one may also use a method for sensitive metal segregation MS 1 , based on the electric conductivity of the different metal parts (shown as a dotted line). An advantage of sensitive metal segregation is that, besides the non-ferromagnetic metals, high-grade steel, lead as well as non-broken down metals are separable, and are therefore able to be fed to separate metal conditioning. The sensitivity is adjustable, in this context, and with that, so is the desired quality of the separated metal fraction. Setting a low sensitivity leads to a very clean metal fraction, while increasing the sensitivity also increasingly brings with it the isolation of a cable fraction. When the sensitive metal segregation is used, process step VG 1 may perhaps be omitted.

Fraction KFA that is high in plastics, which is obtained in process step VG 2 , has a PVC component, which is frequently in the range of 4 to 8%. The grain size of the fraction is >5 mm, e.g., >10 mm. In next optional process step VG 3 , the high chlorine PVC proportion, which also frequently has increased lead and cadmium values, is separated via its absorption capability of X-rays. This takes place in an X-ray separation system XR 1 . The low-chlorine plastics fraction thus obtained has a chlorine content of 0.6 to 1%. Alternatively or also optionally, the high-chlorine PVC proportion may also come about already before process step VG 1 (segregation of ferromagnetic components FE). The PVC isolation, as a rule, takes place substantially in a downstream process step of a wet density separation (VG 11 , cf. FIG. 4 ), which takes place in the case of smaller grain sizes, and will still be explained below. In process step VG 4 , there is a size reduction of this fraction to a grain size <8 mm, e.g., less than, or equal to 7 mm. As the method, one may select a cutting size reduction ZA 1 , with the aid of cutting mills, by which a breaking down of the non-broken down metals in the range of >99% takes place. This process step is important, above all, when in process step VG 2 an eddy current separation has been used, by which the non-broken down metal composites are not separated. It is to be expected that method step VG 4 may also take place in several stages. The reduction in size may take place, for example, in two stages, in each case one intermediate buffering being possible. For instance, it is possible to first to carry out a size reduction to a grain size less than, or equal to 14 mm, e.g., less than, or equal to 12 mm, and subsequently (perhaps after intermediate buffering) to postconnect a second size reduction to a grain size less than, or equal to 8 mm, e.g., less than, or equal to 7 mm.

Method step VG 4 is followed by an isolation VG 5 of the plastic light particles and the wooden particles created by the breaking down, by air sifting WS 1 , and, for example, equipment WS 1 is made to be controllable, so that wood particles are also able to be blown out. In this context, the residual moisture of the materials is measured, and the suction speed is regulated as a function of the residual moisture. In subsequent process step VG 6 , there is a separation of the remaining fraction into three fractions of different grain size by a sifting SE 3 having at least three sieve layers of a different size of hole. Metal-reduced fraction KF 1 high in plastics, having a grain size in the range of about 0 mm to approximately 1.5 mm, metal-reduced fraction KF 2 high in plastics, having a grain size of approximately 1.5 mm to approximately 4 mm and metal-reduced fraction KF 3 high in plastics, having a grain size of approximately 4 mm to approximately 7 mm are obtained. Components that are larger, are reverted to process step VG 4 (repeated size reduction, reversion not represented in greater detail).

Fractions KF 1 to KF 3 that are metal-reduced and high in plastics, are conditioned as follows in different processes. If, by any chance, in the preceding process sequence, process step VG 5 of isolating the textile and wood particles is omitted, the method step of air sifting WS 2 may be provided in the three process sequences as process step VG 7 (indicated by dotted lines), To be sure, this has the result that the apparatus expenditure is increased, since a plurality of devices has to be provided for air sifting. In the process sequences for individual fractions KF 1 to KF 3 , a separation of non-ferromagnetic metal parts (process step VG 8 ) follows process step VG 7 , or process step VG 6 , if air sifting WS 1 had already been carried out in process step VG 5 . The separation of the non-ferromagnetic metal parts takes place with the aid of density separation DT 1 to DT 3 , and in a particular arrangement, a cascade-shaped density separation, for example, a dual one, may be provided, since always only one fraction is able to be separated in a clean manner.

After density separation DT 1 of plastics fraction KF 1 , a ground plastics material KM is obtained which, together with the raw lint from the first conditioning of the low-metal scrap KA high in plastics ( FIG. 1 , LF) is able to be fed to a utilization. Plastics ground material KM is a low-chlorine plastic having a chlorine proportion <1%. As the second fraction, a non-ferromagnetic metal fraction NE is obtained, which, if necessary, is once more fed to a magnetic segregation, in order to isolate the residual ferromagnetic components. Thereafter, non-ferromagnetic metal fraction NE is made up to the greatest extent of copper.

After density separation DT 2 of metal-reduced fraction KF 2 high in plastics, a prerefined granulate fraction GF 1 and a ferromagnetic metal fraction NE 2 are obtained. After density separation DT 3 in process step VG 8 of metal-reduced fraction KF 3 high in plastics in the range of about 4 mm to 7 mm, a non-ferromagnetic metal fraction NE 3 and a prerefined granulate fraction GF 2 are obtained. Granulate fraction GF 2 together with granulate fraction GF 1 is fed to an additional conditioning (cf. detail process IV in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 ), both granulate fractions GF 1 , GF 2 being able to be fed to an intermediate storage (buffer P 1 ) for the decoupling of the additional process steps. Non-ferromagnetic metal fraction NE 3 is conditioned together with non-ferromagnetic metal fraction NE 2 (cf. detail process III in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 ).

FIG. 3 describes detail process III of FIG. 2 in greater detail. Non-ferromagnetic metal fraction NE 2 obtained after density separation DT 2 receives predominantly copper, but also some aluminum, however, ferromagnetic fraction NE 3 obtained after density separation DT 3 receives predominantly aluminum, but also some copper. The reason is that, in preceding process step VG 4 of cutting size reduction ZA 1 , one is not able to cut the aluminum so well (it is rather pressed to form larger, flat platelets) but one is able to cut copper quite well. Therefore, the copper is to be found predominantly in finer fraction NE 2 .

Before the separation of the non-ferromagnetic metal fractions into their components, these are first submitted to a magnetic separation MA 3 or MA 3 ′ (for instance, a magnetic drum) in a process step VG 90 , with the aim of isolating possibly still present finest FE components (so-called small section steel). In order to separate non-ferromagnetic metal fractions NE 2 and NE 3 into their components copper CU and aluminum AL it is provided first to feed metal fraction NE 2 to a sifting SE 4 in process step VG 91 . The sieve hole sizes may amount, in this instance, to about 0.9 mm, e.g., 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. This yields an almost pure copper fraction CU and an aluminum fraction AL. Aluminum fraction AL is subsequently fed to metal fraction NE 3 (predominantly aluminum). Thereafter, the material steam thus obtained is fed in process step VG 92 to an optical sorting SO 1 , the optical sorter being set to the minority fraction copper (=“red”), and separates it (blows it out). The high purity copper separated in process steps VG 91 and VG 92 may be fed together to a metallurgical utilization. Similarly, the aluminum separated in process step VG 92 may be fed to a metallurgical utilization.

An impact treatment may be inserted before the optical sorting (process step VG 92 ), so as to achieve the balling up of the copper strands. This makes possible a clear increase in efficiency of the optical sorting.

In FIG. 4 it is described how the prerefined granulate fractions GF 1 and GF 2 are processed further in common.

Thus, in process step VG 10 , there is a surface purification OR 1 of granulate particles, to remove dust and operating fluids such as fats and oils, which also have partially diffused into the plastics. Surface purification OR 1 may take place both dry and wet, by the addition of water, by purifying the granulate fractions in a centrifuge, using water. If necessary, one may add non-foaming surface-active agents to the water, depending on the degree of soiling. After that, in process step VG 11 , a first wet density separation NT 1 is carried out, in which splitting up of the substances takes place with respect to their specific density. A severance cut may be provided for this purpose, which is at approximately 1 to 1.5, e.g., at about 1.25. At this severance cut, the requirements of blast furnaces on the chlorine content are easily satisfied. However, depending on the requirements, other severance cuts are also possible. For the separation, for example, a separating fluid, may be added to the water which changes the density of the water such that the so-called acceptable quality fraction, having a reduced chlorine content, floats, and the PVC is separated as the settling fraction. Before the separating container used, the granulate fraction is mixed with the separating fluid in a slurrying container (it also being possible to make a quantity-controlled feeding to the slurrying container so as to be able to regulate the solid content) and is fed in common to the separating container while maintaining laminar flow. For this it is possible to use a separating container having disks, which combines the advantages of laminar separation with those provided in disk separation techniques of waste water treatment. The separating fluid is held to a temperature in order to avoid fluctuations in the density. Magnesium sulphate MgSO 4 is used as the separating fluid, for example. The proportion of water in the separating fluid (temperature dependent) is about 20 to 25%. In this connection, a splitting up takes place into a granulate fraction high in PVC (GF-PVC (+)) and one that is low in PVC (GF-PVC(−)). The rubber proportion of the granulate fraction high in PVC GF-PVC(+) still amounts to 30 to 40%, and in a process step VG 14 this being fed to an electrostatic isolation ET 1 , and the rubber proportion being considerably reduced. The separated rubber proportion may be fed to a utilization V, and the rest of the granulate fraction high in PVC GF-PVC(+) is fed to a waste disposal E, such as a landfill. Consequently, with respect to the granulate fraction high in PVC GF-PVC(+) as well, one is able to achieve a reduction in the waste disposal quantity and an increase in the utilization quantity.

The granulate fraction low in PVC GF-PVC(−) obtained in process step VG 11 is submitted in a subsequent process step VG 12 to a second wet density separation NT 2 using water, e.g., in order to separate polyolefins (e.g., PS, PE, PP, ABS, PA) from this granulate fraction. In this regard, a severance cut with respect to the specific density of about 0.8 to 1.2, e.g., 1.0, may be provided, although in this case, too, other values are possible, depending on the requirement. In wet density separation NT 2 , a granulate fraction high in PVC (GF-PVC(+)) and one that is low in PVC (GF-PVC(−)) are created. The granulate fraction high in polyolefin (GF-PO(+)) obtained is made up substantially of PE and PP, and has a rubber proportion of <2%, which in method step VG 13 , at least to a great extent, is also removed or reduced by electrostatic isolation ET 2 . One obtains a refined granulate fraction GF refined , which is able to be fed to a (working material) utilization V having a high quality requirement. Refined granulate fraction GF refined , if necessary, may be fed to an additional size reduction (regrinding), if postconnected utilization processes require it. Granulate fraction GF-PO(−) that is low in polyolefin, is also fed to a utilization V.

List Of Reference Characters

B 1 , B 2 feed container

DT 1 -DT 3 density separation

E waste disposal

ET 1 , ET 2 electrostatic isolation

FE ferromagnetic components

GF 1 , GF 2 granulate fraction

GF-PVC(+) granulate fraction high in PVC

GF-PVC(−) granulate fraction low in PVC

GF-PO(+) granulate fraction high in polyolefin

GF-PO(−) granulate fraction low in polyolefin

GF refined refined granulate fraction

HM hammer mill

KA low-metal scrap high in plastics

KF metal-reduced fraction high in plastics

KFA metal-reduced fraction high in plastics

KF 1 to KF 3 metal-reduced fractions high in plastics

KM plastic ground material

LF light fraction (raw lint)

MA 1 , MA 2 , MA 3 , magnetic separator

MA 3 ′

MS 1 sensitive metal segregation

NE 1 device for segregating non-ferromagnetic metal parts

NE, NE 2 , NE 3 non-ferromagnetic metal parts

NES high-grade steel components

NT 1 , NT 2 wet density separation

OR 1 surface purification

PVC settling fraction

P 1 buffer,

RS 1 first raw sand fraction

RS 2 second raw sand fraction

SE 1 first sifting device

SE 2 sifting device

SE 3 sifting device

SE 4 sifting device

SF heavy fraction (raw granulate)

SG heavy material

SLF light shredder fraction

SO 1 ′ optical sorting

SSF heavy shredder fraction

ST device for isolating heavy material

V utilization

V 1 to V 7 process steps for conditioning low-metal plastic scrap

VG 1 to VG 13 process steps for conditioning raw granulate SF

WA 1 eddy current separation

WS air sifting

WS 1 , WS 2 air sifting

XR 0 , XR 1 X-ray separation

ZA 1 cutting size reduction

III detail process

IV detail process