Diseño de una Planta Piloto para la Obtención de Granza de Madera Plástica a Partir de Polietileno Reciclado con Partículas Lignocelulósicas (Aserrín)

Abstract

The present study is aimed to design a pilot of a recycling plant for obtaining wood plastic composite from lignocellulosic particles with polyethylene recycled, using a coupling agent consisting in a grafted maleic anhydride polyethylene wax. The characterization of raw materials was studied to determine processing conditions. From there, a process of drying the sawdust before mixing was determined in order to promote union with the matrix; in addition to this it was established that the maximum processing temperature must be 180 ° C to avoid degradation of the lignocellulosic component. The amount of lignocellulosic material that supports the matrix before decay properties were studied significantly; sawdust-polyethylene mixtures were performed using a concentration of sawdust in a range between 5% to 45% in 5% increments. The concentration which presented the best features was that of 15% of sawdust; this concentration of lignocellulosic material was set and then proceeded to add the coupling agent 0.5; 1.0; 15; 20; 3.0; and 5.0%, the concentration of coupling agent with the best results was 1%. The parameters set and the composition of the mixture, were taken as the basis for the process design. By mass balances, a continuous production of 20.83 kg / h wood plastic was determined. Finally, the cost of implementing the plant was determined, it was $ 150,452 and the cost of producing a bag of 25 kg was $ 39.50.