Can the Vinyloop® process regenerate any type of PVC compound material?
In principle, Vinyloop® could be used to regenerate practically any material based on PVC compound. However, Vinyloop® is unlikely to be the most suitable process, from an economical point of view, for regenerating wastes where a simple chopping is sufficient to get a material that can be directly processed.
Is it possible to remove the pigments from the regenerated PVC compound?
It might be technically feasible to remove most of the non-organic pigments, except for carbon black. Research still needs to be conducted on removing certain organic pigments. In our current industrial projects, we have made no provision for removing pigments from the regenerated PVC compound and the relevant technology has not been developed. We will control the color of the regenerated PVC by selecting the PVC compound inflows and by adding pigments when needed.
Why do you talk about 'regenerated' PVC compound or 'precipitated' PVC compound and not simply 'recycled' PVC compound?
The Vinyloop® process produces a PVC compound that cannot be compared to any other PVC compound available on the market today. Its very special morphology and composition are intimately linked to the precipitation phase in the process. Despite the fact that there is no change in the PVC molecule, the precipitation process gives our regenerated PVC the very special characteristics which make it unique.
Is it possible to separate heavy metals in the Vinyloop® process?
In the current industrial projects, we will not be able to separate the heavy metals (Lead, cadmium,…) from the recycled PVC compound. Absence of lead within the regenerated PVC compound can only be achieved through a selection of the in-flows in the system. Nevertheless, preliminary research indicates that it is feasible, but what should be done with the heavy metals once removed? The Voluntary Commitment of the Vinyls Industry states about the phase out of lead and cadmium from virgin product and - as long as no inacceptable risk about the use of lead and cadmium stabilisers is identified - reccommends to accept recyclate containing those metals to avoid their dissemination in the environment.
Why is Vinyloop® considered to be a 'Mechanical Recycling' Process?
The definition is indeed a little ambiguous. But the explanation is very simple. Although the Vinyloop® process utilizes chemicals (solvents) to dissolve the PVC resin, there is no modification of the PVC molecule. The EU Green Paper on PVC (Section 4.3.) defines chemical recycling as a method in which the polymer molecules are broken into smaller molecules like monomers. This is not the case for Vinyloop®. All the operations in the process involve physical transformations of the PVC resin or compound, but not its chemical modification.
What happens to the solvent?
After having dissolved the PVC resin matrix and released the insoluble materials, the organic solution is added to steam. At a particular point, the PVC resin and all its additives move into the aqueous phase and precipitate. At that moment the solvent phase is clean and totally recovered for a new dissolution/precipitation cycle. The solvent thus moves in a closed loop.
