[Mitsubishi Electric Corporation] Mitsubishi Electric and Daisan begin operation of advanced plastic sorting demonstration machine *Mitsubishi Electric Corporation*
Press release: September 11, 2024
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Mitsubishi Electric and Daisan begin operation of advanced plastic sorting demonstration machine
*Contributing to the realization of a recycling-oriented society by bringing together the technologies cultivated through the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s home appliance recycling business*
Advanced plastic sorting demonstration machine to begin operation this time
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, in collaboration with Daisan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture, hereinafter referred to as Daisan), has developed a unique advanced plastic sorting demonstration machine that utilizes the technology cultivated over many years in the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s home appliance recycling business. Developed and started operation at Daisan.
In recent years, with the aim of realizing a recycling-oriented society, regulations have been developed to promote the use of recycled plastic materials, such as the revision of the Act on Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources and the European ELV Directive (*1), and the importance of plastic recycling has become even more important. I am. On the other hand, some plastic products contain a mixture of several types of plastic materials, so
establishing a recycling method that can stably sort waste plastic by material with higher purity is an issue. We have been conducting demonstrations in various fields to resolve this issue (*2).
The demonstration machine that has started operation this time was manufactured by Daisan, which has been collaborating with us for many years in the field of home appliance recycling, with technology provided by us, and is one of the advanced sorting technologies possessed by our group. We utilize sorting technology that uses “static electricity.” Additionally, by securing processing capacity on the same scale as the equipment actually in operation at our group’s home appliance plastic recycling plant (*3), we have made it possible to conduct demonstrations under conditions more similar to the actual environment. We will use this demonstration device to demonstrate waste plastic sorting in a variety of industries and fields, solve problems, and contribute to the realization of a recycling-oriented society.
■Comments from both companies
Comment from Daisan Co., Ltd. President and Representative Director Tomokatsu Tanaka
“Mitsubishi Electric and Daisan have been co-creating in various fields for many years. Among these, the electrostatic sorter, which applies advanced plastic sorting technology, will contribute to solving environmental problems and contribute to the creation of a recycling-oriented society. This is a project aimed at making this a reality. Mitsubishi Electric and Daisan will continue to strive for further co-creation and contribute to society. ”
Comment from Seiji Oguro, Head of Sustainability and Innovation Division, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
“We recognize that plastic recycling is an important issue in realizing a sustainable society. Together with Daisan, we will apply the advanced sorting technology that we have cultivated over many years in the home appliance recycling business to a variety of waste plastics other than home appliances. By doing so, we will convert more plastic into renewable resources and contribute to the realization of a recycling-oriented society.”
■Features of the demonstration machine
* 1. Possible to demonstrate the sorting of various plastics under conditions close to the actual environment *
・Ensures a processing capacity of 200 kg per hour, which is the same scale as the electrostatic sorting equipment actually in operation at our group’s home appliance plastic recycling factory.
・Using the property of static electricity that different plastic materials often have some difference in triboelectric charging tendency, we can sort out a variety of plastics, including black plastics and film-like plastics.
*2. Unique electrode structure achieves high purity and high recovery rate * ・By intentionally making the opposing electrodes have different shapes, it is possible to apply a high electric field to the plastics to be sorted, achieving an approximately 1.5 times improvement in recovery rate compared to our conventional model.
・Equipped with an automatic cleaning function on the electrode and devised to reduce the electric field at the end of the electrode, suppressing the occurrence of abnormal discharge and achieving highly stable electrostatic separation.
Unique electrode structure and analysis results
*3. Expandable to DX *
・It has expandability that allows it to be equipped with a “sensor” that can sense factors that affect electrostatic sorting, and an “AI” that analyzes the sensing data and optimizes the partition position and voltage. This makes it possible to optimize sorting conditions in real time in response to raw material fluctuations, and to implement “smart electrostatic sorting (DX of electrostatic sorting),” which achieves the highest efficiency electrostatic sorting at all times without the need for operational know-how.
■Future plans/future outlook
We will work to demonstrate waste plastic sorting and solve problems in a variety of industries and fields, and aim to commercialize advanced plastic sorting equipment and begin receiving orders in 2025. We also offer a solution (RaaS: Recycle) that converts plastic sorting information and operation know-how into DX
We will also promote the development of “As a Service” services.
*1 ELV Directive (End-of-Life Vehicle Directive): Directive regarding the disposal of automobiles established by the EU
*2 Public relations announcement on December 21, 2022
https://www.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp/news/2022/pdf/1221-a.pdf
https://www.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp/news/2023/pdf/0720.pdf
*3 Green Cycle Systems Co., Ltd. (Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture) http://www.gc-s.co.jp/
-For customer inquiries-
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Sustainability Innovation Headquarters Sustainability Business Promotion Department Recycling Co-Creation Center
2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8310
E-mail: info.recycle@mf.mitsubishielectric.co.jp