Kebilong twin-screw extruder and EcoFresh silo devolatilization system have obtained FDA food grade certification

Recently, Kobelon has released high-density polyethylene（HDPE）Compared to polypropylene（PP）The recycling technology has obtained a Letter of No Objection (LNO) issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This decision confirms the adoption of KobelonDouble screw extruderThe rHDPE and rPP produced by the combination process with the EcoFresh silo devolatilization system meet the requirements for direct contact materials with food.

Kebelong has become the first supplier to offer a complete decontamination solution that integrates twin-screw extruders and EcoFresh silo devolatilization systems, providing the market with an efficient solution for producing food grade recycled materials. The production capacity ranges from small-scale to 6000 kilograms per hour. Through the synergistic effect of the two mature technologies mentioned above, Kebelon has achieved the necessary rHDPE and rPP decontamination effects for obtaining LNO. The decontamination efficacy of this combination has been evaluated in a challenge test and confirmed by the FDA.

Based on this, new possibilities for the lifecycle of food packaging can be realized: for example, the recycled pellets produced from HDPE milk or juice bottles after consumption can be used to produce similar bottles or similar products. Food containers, cups, bowls, and trays made of PP can also be recycled and reused to create new packaging that comes into direct contact with food.

　　Kobelon's EcoFresh silo degassing system and twin-screw extruder have received a no objection letter from the FDA, making them suitable for producing food grade HDPE and PP recycled materials.

Production of food grade rHDPE and rPP

Producing food grade safe recycled materials is one of the biggest challenges in the field of plastic recycling. This type of recycled pellets is considered suitable for direct contact with food, meeting high requirements for purity and safety.

The no objection letter (LNO) issued by the FDA means that the addition ratio of rHDPE and rPP produced using our company's technology in food packaging can reach 100%. ”Stefan Lachenmayer, Global Business Director of Kobelon Recycling Business, said. Therefore, we assure recyclers that our energy-saving mechanical recycling process can produce high-quality recycled materials for use categories A-H. This includes packaging suitable for high temperature, heat sterilization, pasteurization, or frozen products. ”

Food safety process steps

The outstanding cleaning efficiency of the Kobelon system lies in the synergistic effect of the efficient melt devolatilization of the twin-screw extruder and the devolatilization of the EcoFresh bin - both of which ensure the thorough removal of highly volatile migratory pollutants.

The raw materials for Kebelong's food grade rHDPE regeneration process are post consumer HDPE beverage bottles and their caps. The incoming materials for rPP mixed ingredients include fruit and vegetable trays, outer packaging, yogurt cups, and other sources.

The material is fed into the extruder through the K-Tron weight loss feeder, and first undergoes melting, thorough mixing, homogenization, and devolatilization processes under the action of twin-screw. Kobelon, with years of rich experience in the fields of melt devolatilization and solid-state devolatilization, designs process parameters for corresponding recycling applications.

After removing solid impurities through a melt filter, plastic is granulated. With years of rich experience in the fields of melt and solid devolatilization, Kebelong has designed process parameters for corresponding recycling applications and optimized the process flow and screw combination according to different recycling application requirements.

Food grade testing at the Recycling Innovation Center

Recyclers can test the decontamination performance of their extruders and EcoFresh silo devolatilization systems at the Kebelong Recycling Innovation Center; The center can use raw material flow to comprehensively validate two technologies. Combined with the Herbold Meckesheim testing center (responsible for grinding and cleaning raw materials), Kobelon can fully reproduce the entire recycling process at its testing center.

Our HDPE and PP recycling solution is suitable for the production of food contact materials based on the integrated solution we adopt as a system supplier. We comprehensively examine the entire process and apply our decontamination technology accurately at multiple stages of the process chain. It is the optimal synergy of these technologies that makes it possible to efficiently achieve the necessary decontamination effect. ”Stefan Lachenmayer stated.