Abstract: Thermoplastic materials are separated and recovered, according to the present invention, utilizing a process wherein a mixture of the thermoplastic material to be recovered and one or more contaminants are simultaneously heated and agitated. The mixture is heated to the temperature at which the thermoplastic will adhere to itself, but at which the contaminant has not become tacky. Impacting thermoplastic particles agglomerate, while the contaminant particles do not adhere to other contaminant particles or to the thermoplastic particles. The resulting mixture is passed through a series of screens of increasing mesh size to separate the larger thermoplastic particles from the smaller contaminant particles.

Abstract: Plastics are separated and recovered from mixtures containing plastics and other materials, by flotation in an aqueous dispersion, wherein the disperse phase comprises a substance such as for example calcium carbonate having an average mean particle size from about 1 micron to about 75 microns. The process is particularly useful for separating polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride from comminuted wire and cable scrap.