Application of disc screen for wastepaper recycling: evaluation of influential parameters

Recycling of wastepaper is an effective way to achieve the sustainable paper manufacturing regarding sustainable development goals. Focusing on the mixed wastepaper sorting, recovery of suitable papers for deinking purpose and minimizing the impurities were developed in this study. In a wastepaper sorting process, each equipment has its own role in increasing recycling performance. In this study, Disc Screen was applied and evaluated for sorting of the mixed wastepaper considering independent variables such as inclination, velocity and moisture content. Response surface method was applied for design of the experiments. Sorting efficiency of 100% was achieved in two conditions: 1–20% inclination, 20 Hz velocity and 5% moisture content; 2–10% inclination, 20 Hz velocity and 0% moisture content. It can be concluded that the adverse effect of wastepaper’s moisture can be compensated via adjusting the disc screen’s inclination and rotation velocity. Indeed, disc screen is a feasible approach for efficient sorting of wet and dry mixed wastepaper increasing the recovery rate and enhancing the performance of the subsequent sorting units. This process can provide a better feed with higher quality for the subsequent steps, e.g. paper spike as well as sensor and manual sorting by decreasing the sorting load and impurities.