This week’s photo illustrates the before and after of pelletized recycled glass.
Glass bound for reuse is taken from recycling bins to a glass treatment plant where, after sorting, it is crushed up to be made into new glass products. This crushed glass is referred to as cullet.
Upon crushing, the glass cullet goes into an oven for melting. However, because the material is so finely ground, some of the material can be drawn upward in the convection airflow, resulting in lost product and waste. For this reason, pelletizing recycled glass offers a major advantage.
Pelletized glass, typically made on a pan granulator (disc pelletizer), negates this problem, because pellets are heavy enough that they will not be swept up into the airflow. The recycled glass pellets can be melted down, avoiding unnecessary waste and lost product.
FEECO is highly experienced in pelletizing glass, whether coarsely (as shown) or finely ground. We’ve been designing processes and custom agglomeration equipment for over 60 years. We also offer a unique lab facility where we can test your material to see if it will agglomerate. For more information on our agglomeration capabilities, contact us today!