Advanced jig separation technology for resource recycling and wettability control of plastics

日本的工业系统和日常生活正在转向以回收为基础的社会，以减少能源和资源的消耗，从废旧产品中有效分离有价值成分的技术很重要。作者开发了RETAC跳汰机（一种改进的TACUB跳汰机），RETAC跳汰机可以分离密度相对较低的颗粒，如塑料。为了进一步提高分离能力，开发了一种混合跳汰机（颗粒床下带有气泡器的RETAC跳汰机），该跳汰机可以通过颗粒润湿性的差异来分离具有相似比重的塑料。研究了具有相似润湿性的塑料的表面改性，使其能够在混合夹具中分离，并对塑料表面润湿性进行精确控制。研究了气泡大小对颗粒表观密度的影响，开发了浮悬浮颗粒回收系统。

Industrial systems and daily life in Japan are shifting to a society based on recycling to reduce energy and resource consumption and efficient separation technology of valuable component from used products is important. The authors have developed the RETAC jig (a modified TACUB jig) and the RETAC jig can separate relatively low density particles such as plastics. To further improve the separation ability, a hybrid jig (a RETAC jig with an air bubbler under the particle bed), which can separate plastics having similar specific gravities by the differences in the wettabilities of the particles was developed. Surface modification of plastics with similar wettability enabling separation in the hybrid jig and precise control of the wettability of plastic surfaces are investigated. Effect of bubble size on apparent density of particles was also investigated and recovery system of floating and suspending particles was developed.