How GEA technology helps the environment
In the PET bottle recycling process, used products are first shredded into small pieces of two to three millimeters. Hot and cold washing, followed by caustic water, is then used to remove contaminants such as sand, solids, stickers and adhesive residues.
In order to avoid having to constantly replace washing water and expensive alkaline solutions, or to avoid clogging the equipment and machines required in the subsequent process, all contaminants must be removed from the water circuit during the cleaning process. GEA sludge Decanters with very high G-force and torque handling capabilities are used in the recycling industry. The cleaned wash water can be returned to the process cycle. This protects the environment and reduces production costs. An efficient separation system thus makes an invaluable contribution to maintaining the water cycle.
The cleaned PET flakes are then available for further use and can be processed into sports shoes, functional clothing, cushion filling, reusable bags, binders, or for processing the polyester in hygiene products such as wet wipes, or for "bottle-to-bottle" recycling, which requires a very laborious process of cleaning used PET bottles.
A reduced footprint for PET recycling and rPET
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The water equation
Across Europe, drought is a recurring reality – and no longer confined to the south. While water increasingly shapes where industries locate, its value is determined by local context. There are many technological routes to water efficiency in industrial processes, but location, energy needs and other factors are also key.
