Case Study – Plastics Deinking Plant
April 28, 2026
A Breakthrough in Sustainable Plastic Recycling Technology
Project Overview
Zeton designed and built the new Plastic Deinking Pilot Plant for Ghent University’s Campus Kortrijk, a key installation within the CLARIFY program. The pilot line enables the processing of complex plastic film packaging by removing inks, coatings, and aluminium layers, and the extraction of migratable substances, a crucial step toward producing high‑quality, food‑safe recycled material. In addition, the pilot is designed with a strong focus on versatility and chemical resistance, enabling not only the upscaling of advanced washing processes but also dissolutionbased recycling and a broad range of future applications.
Technological Innovation
- Modular construction
All process equipment is distributed across multiple frames, enabling efficient transport through the facility and ensuring compliance with maximum allowable floor loads. - Chemical‑resistant process design
The installation is engineered to handle a wide spectrum of chemicals, including acids, bases and solvents. All wetted components are constructed from chemically resistant materials or finished with specialized coatings to ensure long‑term durability. - Custom glass reactor system
Designed to be fully drainable by a custom made pneumatic actuated bottom valve. - Multipurpose Nutsche Filter
Designed for versatile operation, incl. reaction, filtration, washing, and drying, the Nutsche filter features fully automated product collection. Its configuration also enables use as an evaporation vessel for efficient solvent recovery, increasing operational versatility.
Project Objectives
The deinking technology focuses on removing inks, coatings and aluminium layers from complex plastic films to produce clean, food‑safe recyclate. This high‑purity material enables true closed‑loop reuse and supports the development of more sustainable plastic packaging processes.
Impact & Outlook
The pilot installation marks a major step toward circular plastics processing in Flanders and Europe. It enables high‑quality recycling of difficult‑to‑process films, supports food‑safe recyclate production, and accelerates the transition from lab‑scale research to industrial application.
Collaboration & Success
The success of this project reflects the strength of collaboration between academic expertise, industrial craftsmanship, and strategic innovation programs.