Application of surface modification using sodium hypochlorite for helping flotation separation of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and polystyrene plastics of WEEE

[Display omitted] •Surface modification using sodium hypochlorite is developed for separation of ABS and PS.•Box-Behnken design is used to optimize conditions for surface modification of ABS.•Surface modification changes significantly the recovery in floated products of ABS.•The oxidation and hydrolysis induced by sodium hypochlorite occur on the surface of ABS.•Plastic mixtures of ABS and PS with different particle sizes can be separated effectively. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polystyrene (PS), as important fractions of Waste from Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) plastics, show great significances to the recycling of WEEE. The objective of this study is to develop a simple, practical and efficient surface modification method using sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) for separation of waste ABS and PS plastics by the aid of froth flotation. After surface modification, more hydrophilic groups are introduced on ABS surface than that of PS, enhancing its surface hydrophilicity clearly and reducing its recovery in floated products. Single parameter experiments demonstrate NaClO concentration, treatment temperature, treatment time are key parameters in surface modification. Optimization of conditions for surface modification of ABS was conducted by Response Surface Methodology with a Box-Behnken design, and a predicting model was obtained also. The optimum conditions are NaClO concentration of 0.05 M/L, temperature of 67.50 °C, treatment time 59.50 min and stirring rate of 200 rpm. Under optimum conditions, ABS and PS with different particle sizes can be separated efficiently with recovery of 99.18% and 99.47%, and purity of 99.45% and 99.18% respectively. The application of surface modification using sodium hypochlorite can facilitate efficient flotation separation of waste ABS and PS plastics for the recycling of WEEE.