Products

IR-FRESH®

infrared technology

Odor reduction for recycled plastic

Post-consumer plastic packaging has absorbed intense odors due to its direct contact to food, cleaning agents, chemicals, cosmetics, fuel bottles, etc. These migrated substances are not completely removable using conventional recycling processes. So, in support of the recycling process chain, odor reduction is a critical step to guarantee a high-quality end product.

With the IR-FRESH® system, KREYENBORG offers high-performance, innovative and cost-effective technology for the deodorization in post-consumer plastics – without using any vacuum technology, and as a retrofit solution for existing extrusion lines.

Advantages

High-performance odor reduction
Easy retrofitting for existing extrusion lines
No pre-heating of the system required
Short processing and residence times
No vacuum system required
First in/ First out
Constant surface exchange
Continuous process
High-quality recycled flakes and pellets
Up-cycling of post-consumer plastics
Customized design
Uniform treatment of the material
Energy efficiency
Easy and cost-effective maintenance
Same system can be used with other materials for drying & crystallizing
Protection of polymer structure
Expand the use of recycling materials to new applications
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removed from your product
Control of process parameters for consistent results
Pre-heating and drying before extrusion process

Your products

Post-consumer plastic packaging in the form of flakes and pellets (PP, HDPE, LDPE, TPE, PS, PA and many more!)

Application for flakes before extrusion

Application for pellets after extrusion

Application for pellets as stand-alone solution

Process steps

STEP 1: IR-FRESH®

The infrared light module installed above the material bed heats the material quickly and directly to the required temperature level. Meanwhile, the constant rotation of the drum ensures a homogeneous mass flow with a defined residence time (first-in/first-out principle). Due to its rotation and mixing elements integrated in the coils, the material inside the drum is continuously mixed with a constant surface exchange. This, combined with controlled heating, ensures considerable reduction of odor.

STEP 2: IR-FRESH® CONDITIONER

The remaining odors in the flakes or pellets can be significantly reduced during a thermal-physical cleaning process inside the IR-FRESH® CONDITIONER. The insulated hopper maintains the material at the required temperature. Excellent deodorization results can be achieved through the interaction of the main process parameters: air flow, temperature, and residence time.

Recovered heat from the exhausted air from the STEP 1 is applied to STEP 2, offering greater energy efficiency.

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Odor-reduction efficiency of
IR-FRESH® system

During the IR-FRESH® process step, drastic odor reduction can be achieved in a very short time. Rapid heating of the plastic material in STEP 1 results in reduced residence time in STEP 2.

Measuring VOC reduction

The efficiency of the IR-FRESH® system has been verified by many gas chromatographic analyses and sensory panels (groups of trained inspectors). The gas chromatographic graphs below show the considerable reduction of VOCs after the IR-FRESH® process.

Volatile substances that cause odors can be detected in various ways:

  • by means of gas chromatographic analyses
  • by sensory panels with trained inspectors

About the CIRCULAR FOODPACK PROJECT

This equipment was part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 101003806.