The original materials

for the ECOCYCLING process can be mixed waste (including special waste) of greatly varying origins and compositions:

1.   Municipal solid waste (domestic and bulky waste)
2.   Commercial waste
   
3. Industrial, harbor sludge (individual test), municipal sewage sludge
4. Already disposed of waste
5. Ash (under certain conditions)
6. Contaminated soil

Metal content < 5% is tolerable. Building waste containing steel, tyres and – because of their specific hazardous nature – explosives as well as radioactive and highly infectious materials cannot be processed. If the infeed size of the material is greater than 300 mm, it must be pre-shredded accordingly.

Recipes and additives

Depending on the chemical composition of the processed (mixed) waste and the desired target product, mineral and/or chemical additives are added to the waste according to fixed recipes, allowing the process to start and take place in a controlled environment. These additives are reactances; they are used up completely in the course of the reactions.

No energy input required

The process requires no input of external energy whatsoever. It takes place under local, atmospheric pressure conditions. The energy required for the process comes from the reactive elements of the additives and from the waste itself.

The process

The material is shredded (< 2 mm), blended and homogenised. It shows exothermic behaviour, that is, it becomes approx. 60 – 90 °C warm. The resulting mineral phases offer anchor points for the various environmentally hazardous substances, and enclose these (ettringite, metal-metal hydroxide salt, metal hydroxide). Neither waste gas nor waste water is released in this process.

Control

The environment for the ECOCYCLING process is set according to the recipe and is controlled continuously and automatically. The latest sensor technology is used, for example X-ray fluorescence analysis XFA. Quality assurance is integrated.

System technology

The system technology used for the ECOCYCLING process is robust and is available at short notice practically worldwide. It is based on classical system technology, which is adapted to the specific requirements of ECOCYCLING. Essentially, it comprises stations for material input, the appropriate conveyor systems, modern cross-flow shredders, mixers and homogenisation systems. The system technology is planned, produced and assembled by Xproducts .

Output: Environmentally friendly material

Depending on the recipe and the desired target product, the ECOCYCLING process produces a specific, completely new, environmentally neutral and stable material that shows no harmful eluate behaviour whatsoever. This material already has all of the technical properties required to be able to produce high-quality materials with new, outstanding properties in subsequent technical processes. These are valuable aggregates for many different applications.

Mobile systems

work with a product output of 100 or 200 tonnes per day on the basis of 16-hour operation.

Stationary systems

work in 3-shift operation with a product output of 300, 500 or 1000 tonnes per day. In both cases, the capacity specifications are based on an average bulk density of the infed waste mixture of 400 kg/m³.

Space requirements

The ECOCYCLING system itself does not require much space, approx. 1,500 to 3,500 m² depending on the capacity. The logistics (storage, transportation, loading) require significantly more space. Total space requirements of approx. 15,000 to 35,000 m² can be expected …

Energy requirements

No energy input is required for the ECOCYCLING process itself. The requirements for the electrical consumers are between 800 kW and approx. 2.5 MW.

Control systems

The complete process management systems are also supplied by Xproducts. They guarantee a largely automated sequence of operations continuously monitored by state-of-the-art sensors, and also ensure the uniformly high quality of the material produced.

Recipes

Xproducts also supplies the recipe which establishes how a material output of a defined quality can be guaranteed on the basis of defined additives, proceeding from a defined input. The recipe specifies the process limits and the control variables for all system parts, and also supplies the data required for basic configuration.

Personnel requirements

Only a small number of workers are required to operate the ECOCYCLING system.