CreaCycle GmbH
Auf der Artwick 74
41515 Grevenbroich
Germany
Telephone:
+49 (0) 2181-288806-0
Telefax:
+49 (0) 2181-288806-9
E-Mail:
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Recycling of expanded poly styrene (EPS)
The current national expanded polystyrene (EPS) collection systems are burdened by two main problems: high transportation cost and low quality of the recycled polystyrene.
Volume reduction factors 3-4 times higher than through grinding can be reached by dissolving EPS in CreaSolv® PS and collection in solution offers additional advantages. Both, grinded as well as compressed EPS can be dissolved easily in CreaSolv® PS and many other plastics or impurities, which are typically present, do not dissolve and can be easily separated.
The Kick-off!
In 2001 Fraunhofer IVV made a feasibility study for the CreaCycle GmbH and Heger GmbH for solvent-based Recycling of EPS waste with the aim to test an alternative to the traditional „shredder – compress – re-extrude“ approach, because the latter has problems with impurities and additives.
From Foam to Foam
In November 2003 the EPS – Loop project was launched by a consortium of eleven companies. This co-operation was based on the CreaSolv® Process and the main goal was the development and optimization of this recycling process for EPS waste. Additionally a concept for a cost efficient transport of EPS waste was be developed as well. The run-time of the project was 18 months and the total budget € 1.1 million.
EPS Recycling from ETICS Deconstruction
In 2014 the Sunpor GmbH, Austria contracted the Fraunhofer IVV to apply the CreaSolv® Process to External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) from EPS construction waste, in order to test its effectiveness. Sunpor produces approximately 230.000 tons EPS annually and is the third largest producer in Europe.
CreaSolv® Demonstration Plant in Holland (NL) - EPS Recycling with POP-Separation
A Dutch cooperation set the goal,
to build a CreaSolv® Demonstration plant, in order to recycle External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) and interior thermal insulation systems with flame retardants in a way that the today banned hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is removed and the recovered polystyrene meets the Basel POP Guidelines1). HBCD was one of the most common flame retardant used in insulation, textiles and electronics.