PET Bottle Washing Recycling Line | PET Bottle Flakes Washing Plant

Raw Materials and Final Products

Raw Materials

• Water bottles
• Beverage bottles
• Mineral water bottles
• Soft drink bottles
• PET packaging containers

Final Products

• 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 → Sink-Float Separation Tank→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

Belt Conveyor

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.

Sink-Float Separation Tank

The sink-float separation tank, also known as the net flotation separator, is designed to separate PET flakes from lightweight plastic contaminants based on differences in material density.

After crushing, the mixed materials enter the separation tank filled with water. Due to their different densities:

• PET flakes sink to the bottom of the tank.
• PP and PE bottle caps float on the water surface.

A screw conveying system automatically transports the PET flakes to the next washing stage, while floating caps and lightweight impurities are discharged separately.

Main Functions:

• Separate PET flakes from PP/PE bottle caps
• Improve the purity of PET flakes
• Reduce contamination before friction and hot washing
• Increase the quality and market value of recycled PET flakes

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

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.

High Recycling Efficiency

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.

FAQs

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.

We offer:

• 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.