title: Microwave-assisted surface modification for the separation of polycarbonate from polymethylmethacrylate and polyvinyl chloride waste plastics by flotation.
abstract: Microwave-assisted potassium permanganate modification (MPPM) was used for the flotation separation of polycarbonate (PC) from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) waste plastics. The separation process was optimized by investigating the potassium permanganate concentration, treatment time, flotation time and frother concentration. MPPM selectively reduced the flotation recovery of PC. The optimum conditions were determined to be: potassium permanganate concentration, 2 mM/L; treatment time, 1 min; frother concentration, 17.57 g/L; and flotation time, 1 min. PC was efficiently separated from PVC and PMMA under the optimum conditions. The purity of the separated PC was 97.71%. The purity and recovery of PVC and PMMA were both >95%. The modification mechanism was investigated using the water contact angles, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. This work provides technical insights into the industrial recycling of waste plastics.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, China.
authors.forename: Luoluo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, China.
authors.forename: Chongqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, China.
authors.forename: Junyao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D008872:Microwaves; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000032:analysis; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000032:analysis; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000032:analysis; D011196:Potassium Permanganate / Q000737:chemistry*; D059027:Recycling; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D062611:Solid Waste; D011196:Potassium Permanganate; C005506:polycarbonate; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
keywords: Microwave-assisted separation; flotation separation; potassium permanganate; recycling; surface modification; waste plastics