Environment first: Unique diaper-recycling by KLINGER The Netherlands

The waste to energy plant ARN B.V. in Weurt (NL) is first in implementing a sustainable way to recycle diapers and incontinence materials. KLINGER, the top leader for sealing, fluid control and fluid monitoring systems, was involved in the project almost from day one, providing know-how and construction parts.

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Do diapers and incontinence materials really present such a waste problem? Yes, but not for much longer! At least, not in the Netherlands. The Dutch waste processor ARN has now found a way to transform used diapers into a resource. When it came to its physical implementation, ARN called in the specialists of KLINGER to help with the technical challenges.

 

KLINGER provides expertise for pioneering invention

Even though KLINGER The Netherlands has an immense amount of experience with all sorts of industrial production, they had no reference to compare this new challenge with. "However, our engineering expertise allows us to adapt to any manufacturing process. It is just applied physics, after all. In our business, we need to be able to calculate the ideal specifications, no matter how complex the requirements are. Heat, pressure, corrosion, flow rate, type and aggressiveness of media, etc. – everything needs to be taking into account when choosing and designing the right product,” says Boudewijn Slager, Product Specialist for Fluid Control at KLINGER The Netherlands. KLINGER worked intensively with ARN’s engineering department and project management to discuss the specific process requirements, provided them with the design specifications, and also helped with providing calculations and estimates.

Finding the right valves for hot steam, high pressure and severe conditions

Diapers consist of plastic, paper and biodegradable waste, and often contain some problematic substances such as medicinal drugs. The idea was to melt the diapers using steam at 250°C, extract the plastic for recycling, and use the remaining components for biogas and fertilizer. There were many unknowns: What type of pipes would be safe for transporting the steam? Which valves would be able to withstand the extremely high pressures that were required? How could the pipes be kept free from molten and re-solidifying plastic? KLINGER The Netherlands not only provided a lot of know-how, they also supplied the suitable technical components such as various valves (control valves, ball valves, butterfly valves and specially designed lift plug valves), steam traps, gaskets and hoses.

Boudewijn Slager and Klaas Doting (with the white helmets) of KLINGER The Netherlands accompanied ARN with their on-site expertise from the start. Niek Temmens (red helmet), Process Operator at ARN, operates the system.

KLINGER The Netherlands not only provided a lot of know-how, they also supplied ARN with suitable technical components such as valves, steam traps, gaskets and hoses.

This unique process is ready to be offered to the world

The process was tried out in a small pilot plant, working with 80 kilos of diapers. And, in fall 2019, the first of the three big reactors was ready. It can process 5,000 tons of diapers a year. ARN is planning to expand the plant, processing 15,000 tons a year, corresponding to 75 million diapers. ARN’s inventive diaper-recycling process has now been approved by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (https://www.rivm.nl/en) and also receives subsidies from the EU. Soon, this process will be ready to be offered to the world. "This is the first of this type of process anywhere in the world and there is already a lot of interest. If it proves successful, I am certain it will be duplicated in many places," says Klaas Doting, Sales Engineer at KLINGER The Netherlands. Elsinga is taking care of the international sales of their patented process.

 

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