Low-temperature Embrittlement Technology for Difficult-to-process Waste Plastic

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Planned start of business: 2021

Technology and business model

The technology that is focused on is the one that makes it possible to use the plastic part of shredder dust (shredding residue) from waste automobiles and home appliances as an alternative to fossil energy in the form of powder for burners, and to recover the metal and precious metal parts in a highly efficient manner. This technology has been developed with the support of the Ministry of the Environment and the Vinyl Environmental Council (VEC).

By heat-treating shredder dust in low oxygen conditions at several hundred degrees Celsius using an external heat kiln with a special structure known as Antler Kiln, it is possible to make the plastic materials in the shredder dust brittle and make it easier to separate the plastic parts from the metal and precious metal parts. The separation and recovery of plastic parts from metal and precious metal parts is done by physical selection equipment. Since the materials are first made brittle and then pulverized, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), which is difficult to burn in conventional firing and incineration processes, can be pulverized, and shredder dust for next-generation automobiles can be processed appropriately. The recovered metals and precious metal parts are of a grade that can be utilized as resources by smelting companies, and in addition to base metals, gold can also be recovered.

In our business model, Matsuda Sangyo is responsible for the disassembling, crushing and classifying processes, while our corporation is responsible for the roasting process.

Achievements and goals

At present, a facility capable of processing 7,800 tons of shredder dust and other materials per year is being tested at DC, a group company, and commercial operation is scheduled to begin in FY2009.

Reference URL

https://www.taiheiyo-cement.co.jp/csr/pdf/2020/e_40_41.pdf