The PET bottle washing recycling line is a complete recycling solution designed to process waste PET bottles into high-quality clean PET flakes. With production capacities ranging from 500 kg/h to 3000 kg/h, the line is widely used by plastic recycling plants, fiber manufacturers, and PET bottle recycling businesses.
This PET bottle flakes washing plant integrates label removal, sorting, crushing, hot washing, friction washing, rinsing, dewatering, drying, and impurity separation into one continuous system. The final PET flakes can reach fiber-grade quality and be reused for manufacturing polyester fibers, packaging straps, geotextiles, rope nets, and industrial plastic products.
The PET bottle recycling rate can reach approximately 85%, meaning that 1 ton of waste PET bottles can produce about 850 kg of clean PET flakes after processing.
Суровини и крайни продукти
Суровини
- Water bottles
- Beverage bottles
- Mineral water bottles
- Soft drink bottles
- PET packaging containers
Крайни продукти
- Clean PET flakes
- Fiber-grade PET flakes
- Bottle-grade PET flakes
PET Bottle Washing Process
The complete PET bottle recycling process includes:
Belt Conveyor → Label Remover → Sorting Table → Crusher → Screw Conveyor → Friction Washer → Hot Washing Tank → Screw Conveyor → Friction Washer → First Rinsing Tank → Second Rinsing Tank → Horizontal Dewatering Machine → Drying Pipe → Air Separator → Storage
This process effectively removes labels, caps, oil stains, glue, dirt, PVC contamination, and moisture, ensuring high-quality PET flakes.
Main Machines in the PET Recycling Line
Лента транспортьор
The conveyor transports PET bottles continuously to the next processing stage.
A typical PET bottle weighs approximately 26–30g, and 1 ton of bottles contains about 35,000 bottles. PET bottles are usually accompanied by PP/PE caps and PVC labels.
PET Bottle Label Remover
The label remover separates labels from PET bottles before crushing.
Features:
- Original bottle label removal rate: up to 98%
- Compressed bottle label removal rate: 80–90%
- Alloy steel blades for long service life
- Efficient preparation for high-purity PET flakes
After label removal, only the bottle body, caps, and a small amount of residual labels remain.
Sorting Table
Workers manually remove:
- Bottles with remaining labels
- Non-PET plastic bottles
- Different-colored bottles
This step helps improve final PET flake quality.
PET Bottle Crusher
The crusher reduces bottles into PET flakes.
Features:
- Blade material: 9CrSi alloy tool steel
- Screen size: 16–18 mm
- Minimum screen size: 6 mm
- Water-assisted crushing reduces blade temperature and washes impurities
For 500 kg/h lines, a 600-type crusher is commonly used, while 1000 kg/h lines generally use an 800-type crusher.
Screw Conveyor
The screw conveyor transports PET flakes while allowing water and contaminants to flow back into the washing system, reducing chemical waste.
Friction Washer (First Stage)
This machine is used when bottles contain large amounts of dirt, mud, and impurities.
Functions:
- Intensive rubbing and cleaning
- Removal of sand and surface contaminants
- Improved washing efficiency before hot washing
Hot Washing Tank
The hot washing tank is one of the most important machines in the PET bottle recycling line.
Functions:
- Remove oil stains
- Remove glue residues
- Dissolve contaminants
- Improve PET flake purity
Operating Parameters:
- Water temperature: 80–90°C
- Washing time: about 30 minutes
- Heating method: electromagnetic heating
- Chemical additives: sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and cleaning agents
For heavily contaminated bottles, two hot washing tanks are recommended for continuous operation.
Friction Washer (Second Stage)
Unlike the first friction washer, the second-stage machine focuses on:
- Separating PET flakes
- Removing residual dirt
- Improving washing uniformity
First Rinsing Tank
Functions:
- Remove residual alkali
- Control pH value (≤8)
- Separate the remaining bottle caps
PET flakes sink while PP/PE caps float, allowing efficient material separation.
Second Rinsing Tank
Further cleaning and purification of PET flakes.
Functions:
- Final rinsing
- Additional cap separation
- Improve flake cleanliness
Horizontal Dewatering Machine
The dewatering machine removes most of the water from PET flakes.
Performance:
- Dewatering rate: 95–97%
- Final moisture content: 2–3%
The flakes can be temporarily stored after dewatering.
Drying Pipe System
The drying pipe further reduces moisture content.
Performance:
- Drying efficiency: up to 99%
- Final moisture content: below 0.5–1%
Recommended length:
- 15m for 500 kg/h line
- 20m for 1000 kg/h line
Air Separator
The air separator removes:
- Label fragments
- Paper particles
- PVC contamination
- Light impurities
This step significantly improves PET flake purity.
Electrical Control Cabinet
The entire line is controlled through a centralized electrical cabinet featuring:
- Stable operation
- Easy monitoring
- Safety protection system
- Automatic control
PET Bottle Washing Recycling Line Specifications
| Модел | Капацитет (kg/h) | Crusher Model | Hot Washing System | Installed Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SL-500 | 500 | 600 Crusher | 1-2 Tanks | 95-120 kW |
| SL-1000 | 1000 | 800 Crusher | 2 Tanks | 150-200 kW |
| SL-2000 | 2000 | Custom | 2-3 Tanks | 250-350 kW |
| SL-3000 | 3000 | Custom | 3 Tanks | 350-500 kW |
Note: Machine configurations can be customized according to bottle cleanliness, production requirements, and factory layout.
Features of Waste PET Processing Plant
High PET Flake Purity
Effectively removes labels, caps, oil, glue, and impurities.
Висока ефективност на рециклиране
Recovery rate can reach approximately 85%.
Flexible Capacity Options
Available from 500 kg/h to 3000 kg/h.
Intelligent Process Design
Optimized equipment arrangement improves washing performance.
Durable Components
High-quality alloy blades and wear-resistant parts.
Wide Application Range
Suitable for various PET bottle recycling projects.
Applications of Recycled PET Flakes
The final PET flakes can be used for producing:
- Polyester staple fiber
- Polyester filament yarn
- Packing straps
- Rope nets
- Geogrids
- Geotextiles
- Industrial bottle preforms
High-quality white transparent flakes usually have the highest market value.
Често задавани въпроси
What is the capacity of the PET bottle washing line?
500–3000 kg/h.
What is the PET flake recovery rate?
Approximately 85%.
What is the label removal rate?
Up to 98% for original bottles.
What is the moisture content after drying?
Below 0.5–1%.
Can heavily contaminated bottles be processed?
Yes, by adding hot washing tanks and friction washers.
What products can be made from PET flakes?
Polyester fiber, straps, rope nets, geotextiles, and bottle-grade products.
Can the line be customized?
Yes, capacity and machine configuration can be customized.
Contact Us for PET Bottle Washing Recycling Line Price
Looking for a reliable PET bottle washing recycling line supplier? We provide complete PET bottle recycling solutions for plastic recycling businesses worldwide.
Ние предлагаме:
- 500–3000 kg/h capacity options
- Customized plant layout design
- High-purity PET flake production solutions
- Installation guidance and technical support
- Factory-direct pricing
Contact us today to get:
- Detailed machine videos
- Technical specifications
- Factory quotation
- Customized recycling plant solution
Send your inquiry now and start your PET bottle recycling business with a professional washing line.
Related Product
As a manufacturer specializing in recycling equipment, we also offer other popular recycling machines, such as PP pelletizing lines. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us for more details and a quote.
