Application
Vacuum pumps for the recycling of plastics and batteries
In the recycling of plastics and lithium batteries, vacuum works in several steps: it conveys the regrind, keeps shredders free of air, removes moisture, monomers and electrolyte from melts and cell material, and separates solvents by distillation. For lithium batteries, Busch describes shredding, drying and distilling under vacuum, Edwards for plastics melt degassing, depolymerisation, pyrolysis and solvent processes. Below you can see how the application works, what vacuum the manufacturers name and which of their series are intended for it – 293 models from 4 manufacturers.
Compare 293 modelsHow it works
- 293Models
- 12Series
- 4Manufacturers
- over 90%Recycling rate of lithium batteries (Busch)
Touch the points: each part of the system explains itself.
In short
Recycling (plastics and batteries): the key facts
- Battery recyclingBusch describes shredding, drying and distilling under vacuum with a recycling rate of over 90% and names R5, HUCKEPACK, COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK and PANDA/PUMA.
- Inert shreddingAccording to Busch, the air is extracted from the shredder and replaced by nitrogen; Busch names R5, MINK, DOLPHIN, COBRA and HUCKEPACK for this.
- Plastics recyclingBusch names conveying, extrusion, pyrolysis and dissolution with R5, MINK, DOLPHIN, SAMOS and COBRA; Edwards melt degassing, depolymerisation, pyrolysis, gasification, solvent processes and SSP/LSP with GXS and EDS.
- PET degassingFor the PET degassing of virgin and recycled material, Leybold names the SCREWLINE (EXTRUVAC SP): a degassing process in which monomers and water vapour are released.
Operating principle
How it works: Recycling (plastics and batteries)
The drawing shows the basic principle in section. The systems and pumps of the individual manufacturers differ in detail.
- ShreddingCells or plastic parts are shredded; Busch describes how the air is extracted from the shredder in the process and replaced by nitrogen.
- Drying and degassingThe electrolyte is evaporated by heat and vacuum (Busch); with plastics, monomers and water vapour are removed from the melt by degassing (Edwards, Leybold).
- SeparationBusch describes vacuum distillation, which separates the electrolytes, and dissolution, in which polymers are selectively dissolved in solvents; according to Busch, pyrolysis turns plastic into fuel.
Vacuum and sizing
Recycling (plastics and batteries): how much vacuum is needed
What the manufacturers say about pressure, pumping speed and sizing.
Which vacuum
For lithium battery recycling, Busch names a recycling rate of over 90%. Which vacuum is required depends on the step: conveying and shredding work with air flows, drying, degassing and distillation with the vapour pressure of electrolyte, monomers and solvents.
Which process steps
Busch: shredding (extracting the air, introducing nitrogen), drying (evaporating the electrolyte by heat and vacuum), distillation (separating the electrolytes), dissolution (dissolving polymers in solvents), pyrolysis (plastic into fuel), extrusion and pneumatic conveying. Edwards: melt degassing, depolymerisation, pyrolysis, gasification, solvent processes and SSP/LSP.
What determines the sizing
The process step and its media: Busch names DOLPHIN for pyrolysis, MINK, DOLPHIN, COBRA and PANDA/PUMA for distillation and drying, MINK, DOLPHIN and COBRA for dissolution (in the product finder also R5 and PANDA/PUMA), and MINK, R5 and SAMOS for conveying. Pfeiffer Vacuum names HiLobe for drying, degassing and dissolution.
What the manufacturers point out
Solvents, monomers and water vapour in the gas flow (Edwards, Leybold) and the inerting of the shredder with nitrogen (Busch). Elmo Rietschle names solid-state and liquid-state polymerisation (SSP/LSP) and polycondensation without naming a series.
Technology
Recycling (plastics and batteries): the vacuum pumps the manufacturers name
Listed are the series the manufacturer itself names for this application. “Show only …” sets the filter of the product overview.
Liquid ring vacuum pumps
70 models · 25–16,160 m³/h
Oil-lubricated rotary vane vacuum pumps
62 models · 3–1,800 m³/h
Screw vacuum pumps
51 models · 70–4,652 m³/h
Roots vacuum pumps
47 models · 14–13,540 m³/h
Claw vacuum pumps
32 models · 18–1,150 m³/h
Side channel blowers
31 models · 40–2,200 m³/h
Elmo Rietschle names the application without naming a series for it.
Product overview
Recycling (plastics and batteries): all 293 models compared
Use the filters on the left to narrow the selection – by manufacturer, technology and the models’ key figures, for 50 or 60 Hz.
Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models
COBRA NS 0070 CPumping speed 70 m³/h 50 Hz85 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.03 mbarRated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz4.4 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0100 BPumping speed 110 m³/h 50 Hz130 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 3.5 kW 50 Hz4.8 kW 60 HzVariants 4
COBRA NC 0100 B ECOTORQUEPumping speed 130 m³/h 50 Hz130 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 4.8 kW 50 Hz4.8 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NS 0160 CPumping speed 135 m³/h 50 Hz170 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.03 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz6.6 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0200 BPumping speed 220 m³/h 50 Hz265 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 6 kW 50 Hz7.6 kW 60 HzVariants 4
COBRA NC 0200 B ECOTORQUEPumping speed 265 m³/h 50 Hz265 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 7.6 kW 50 Hz7.6 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0300 BPumping speed 320 m³/h 50 Hz385 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants 4
COBRA NC 0400 BPumping speed 350 m³/h 50 Hz420 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NX 0450 APumping speed 350 m³/h 50 Hz420 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.1 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0300 B ECOTORQUEPumping speed 385 m³/h 50 Hz385 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 9.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0400 B ECOTORQUEPumping speed 420 m³/h 50 Hz420 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 9.5 kW 50 Hz9.5 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NX 0450 A ECOTORQUEPumping speed 420 m³/h 50 Hz420 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.1 mbarRated motor power 11 kW 50 Hz11 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0500 BPumping speed 490 m³/h 50 Hz490 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 9 kW 50 Hz9 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0630 C VRPumping speed 580 m³/h 50 Hz680 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 25 mbarRated motor power 22 kW 50 Hz22 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NS 0600 CPumping speed 600 m³/h 50 Hz600 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0630 CPumping speed 630 m³/h 50 Hz630 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz17 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 0630 C ECOTORQUEPumping speed 630 m³/h 50 Hz630 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 17 kW 50 Hz17 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA DX 0650 A PLUSPumping speed 650 m³/h 50 Hz650 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.1 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NX 0650 APumping speed 650 m³/h 50 Hz650 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.1 mbarRated motor power 12.5 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NX 0650 A ECOTORQUEPumping speed 650 m³/h 50 Hz650 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.1 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NF 0750 APumping speed 750 m³/h 50 Hz750 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA NC 1000 BPumping speed 840 m³/h 50 Hz1,000 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 22 kW 50 Hz25 kW 60 HzVariants 
COBRA DX 0950 A PLUSPumping speed 950 m³/h 50 Hz950 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 18.5 kW 50 Hz18.5 kW 60 HzVariants Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models
Busch HUCKEPACK series 4 models
Busch MINK series 32 models
Busch PANDA/PUMA series 26 models
Busch R5 series 58 models
Busch SAMOS series 31 models
Edwards EDS series 3 models
Edwards GXS series 10 models
Leybold SCREWLINE series 2 models
Pfeiffer Vacuum ACP series 4 models
Pfeiffer Vacuum HiLobe series 17 models
No model matches these filters.
Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models
Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models
Busch HUCKEPACK series 4 models
Busch MINK series 32 models
Busch PANDA/PUMA series 26 models
Busch R5 series 58 models
Busch SAMOS series 31 models
Edwards EDS series 3 models
Edwards GXS series 10 models
Leybold SCREWLINE series 2 models
Pfeiffer Vacuum ACP series 4 models
Pfeiffer Vacuum HiLobe series 17 models
Models a manufacturer no longer carries in its current range are listed in its “Outdated models” section.
Industries
Recycling (plastics and batteries): where the manufacturers name it
The manufacturers list these uses on their own pages.
Plastics and recycling
Busch names conveying, extrusion, pyrolysis and dissolution, Edwards melt degassing, depolymerisation, pyrolysis, gasification, solvent processes and SSP/LSP, Leybold PET degassing with SCREWLINE, Elmo Rietschle SSP/LSP and polycondensation, Pfeiffer Vacuum HiLobe for drying, degassing and dissolution.
Battery manufacturing
Busch describes lithium battery recycling as shredding, drying and distilling under vacuum with a recycling rate of over 90%; Pfeiffer Vacuum names HiLobe for dissolution.
Frequently asked questions
Recycling (plastics and batteries): frequently asked questions
How does the recycling of lithium batteries work under vacuum?
Busch describes three steps under vacuum: shredding, drying and distilling. During shredding, the air is extracted and replaced by nitrogen; during drying, the electrolyte is evaporated by heat and vacuum; during distillation, the electrolytes are separated. Busch names a recycling rate of over 90% and the series R5, HUCKEPACK, COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK and PANDA/PUMA.
Why is the shredder evacuated in battery recycling?
So that no air reaches the shredded cells: according to Busch, the air is extracted from the shredder and nitrogen is then introduced, so the process runs inert. Busch names R5, MINK, DOLPHIN, COBRA and HUCKEPACK for this.
Which vacuum pump for plastics recycling?
Busch names R5, MINK, DOLPHIN, SAMOS and COBRA for conveying, extrusion, pyrolysis and dissolution. Edwards names GXS and EDS for melt degassing, depolymerisation, pyrolysis, gasification, solvent processes and SSP/LSP. For PET degassing, Leybold names the SCREWLINE, Pfeiffer Vacuum HiLobe for drying, degassing and dissolution as well as ACP.
What is dissolution in plastics recycling?
According to Busch, polymers are selectively dissolved in solvents in this process; Busch names MINK, DOLPHIN and COBRA, and in its product finder also R5 and PANDA/PUMA. Pfeiffer Vacuum names HiLobe for dissolution. In battery recycling, Busch instead describes the separation of the electrolytes by vacuum distillation.
How much vacuum does recycling need?
The requirement depends on the step: conveying and shredding work with air flows, drying, degassing and distillation with the vapour pressure of electrolyte, monomers and solvents.
Which vacuum pump for the pyrolysis of plastic?
Busch describes pyrolysis as the conversion of plastic into fuel and names DOLPHIN for it. Edwards lists pyrolysis alongside depolymerisation and gasification with GXS and EDS.
What happens during PET degassing in recycling?
Leybold describes the degassing of PET, for virgin material and recycled material alike, with monomers and water vapour in the gas flow, and names the SCREWLINE (EXTRUVAC SP) for it. Edwards names melt degassing in plastics recycling with GXS and EDS.
What do SSP and LSP mean in plastics recycling?
Elmo Rietschle describes SSP and LSP as solid-state and liquid-state polymerisation (polycondensation), without naming a series. Edwards names SSP/LSP in plastics recycling with GXS and EDS, Busch SSP recycling with MINK and R5.
Which vacuum pump for drying in battery recycling?
Busch describes how the electrolyte is evaporated by heat and vacuum, and names MINK, DOLPHIN, COBRA and PANDA/PUMA. Pfeiffer Vacuum names HiLobe for drying, degassing and dissolution.
Can recycled material be conveyed pneumatically?
Yes. Busch names pneumatic conveying in plastics recycling with MINK, R5 and SAMOS; the regrind is moved in closed lines to the next stage.
A single pump or a central vacuum system?
A central system in a room of its own keeps noise and heat away from production and matches its output to the demand. Central vacuum systems are planned and built by Eugen Theis Vakuum, a company of the Ehrler & Beck group – more under Central Vacuum.
Does Ehrler & Beck also supply spare parts and service?
Yes. Ehrler & Beck offers original spare parts and accessories as well as maintenance and repair.
Which pump suits your process?
Tell us the application, the medium and the volume – we advise you on selection, spare parts and service.
