INTRODUCTION 1.

1 Background Plastic is a synthetic material that is made by polymerizing molecules of monomer materials that are derived from coal, petroleum, or natural gas. It is a preferred material because it is lightweight, flexible, durable, versatile, and mostly affordable. It is used for manufacturing a wide range of products, including packaging for food and beverages, dishes, cooking utensils, containers, eyeglasses, computers, phones, toys, furniture, and many others. The first known manmade plastic was introduced in 1862 at the Great International Exhibition in London by a man named Alexander Parkes. Called Parkesine at that time, it was an organic material from cellulose that could be molded after it was heated, and it could retain its shape when it was cooled. During the late 19th century, an American by the name of John Wesley Hyatt used celluloid to produce billiard balls, and this celluloid became known as the first thermoplastic. Further improvements were made to plastics at the turn of the 20th century. Another form of plastic called cellophane was created by Dr Jacques Brandenberger from Switzerland. This material was the first transparent fully-flexible and water-proof plastic wrap. In 1907, Leo Baekeland, a chemist from New York, invented a liquid resin called Bakelite, a thermoset plastic that was capable of retaining its shape under any condition. Bakelite was used in the manufacturing of military weapons and machines as well as electrical insulators. By the 1920s, cellophane became a very popular material around the world. Later on, a young Harvard chemist called Wallace Hume Carothers succeeded in developing nylon, which was known as Fiber 66 at that time. By the 1940s, many other polymers were introduced to the world, and these included acrylic, PVC, neoprene, polyethylene, Teflon, SaranTM, and others. In the following decade, plastic began to be used in numerous products, ranging from packaging to new textiles, and it also paved the way for the invention of innovative products such as televisions and computers The manufacturing of plastic products created a new industry called plastic recycling. The very properties that make plastic a perfect compound for food packaging, toy manufacture, appliances and electronics, are the same properties that keep it from breaking down in our environment once it has been discarded. The recycling of plastics has saved millions of tons of plastics from ending up in our landfills. More efforts are being made to recycle, reduce and reuse plastic material. 1.2 Types of plastic bottle

1.2.1 PETE--1 PETE plastic bottles, which are made of polyethylene terephthalate and have a number one on them, are made of a strong, durable plastic that is good for portability. It is clear, and is good for protecting against leakage, gas and moisture. PETE plastic bottles are mostly used for soft drinks, sports drinks, water, juice and milk, which mean you probably use a PETE plastic bottle fairly often. 1.2.2 HDPE--2 HDPE bottles are the ones that have a number two stamped on the bottom, and they are made out high-density polyethylene. Because they are a more dense plastic bottle, they work well for things that spoil easily, such as milk or for bottling fruit to keep them fresher, longer. They also work well for household chemicals like bleach. 1.2.3 PVC--3 PVC bottle is made from polyvinyl chloride. This type of plastic bottle is very flexible, and used when the liquid or food inside is known to expand or contract, so that it can do so without cracking the plastic. 1.2.4 LDPE4 The number four types of plastic bottles are LDPE bottles, made from low-density polyethylene. This is a thin plastic that is most often used as a waxy moisture barrier that can be cheaply made. It melts easily, which makes it ideal for when heat sealing is necessary. 1.2.5 PP--5 PP bottle is made of polypropylene. Polypropylene has a very high melting point, which is why it is traditionally used for items that need to be heated or have hot liquids poured into it, like coffee. It is also good for small tubs that need to be heated.

1.3

Objective

The main aim of this project is to research about the process of recycling plastic bottles. The purpose of this project is also to: Investigate a new high performance process for recycled plastics bottles Investigate different plastics recycled types for different process Make comparison of which process of recycled plastic are most easily. Recognize the types of plastics that can be process. Identify which particular plastic material that has been used for recycling plastic bottles. Fulfill the requirement of subject BMFA 3481 (Automation Lab). Increase awareness on the importance of recycling of plastic to environment.

1.4 Scope The focus of the research will be on development of efficient mechanical methods for sorting different types of process of plastics recycle. These will include sorting through methods involving centrifugal force, specific gravity, elasticity, particle shape, selective shredding and mechanical properties. Very few plastic sorting systems have been developed using these principles. The research will include the investigation and evaluation of existing methods that already used in the identification and in-process sorting of plastics including technology used, performance, limitations.