Glass batch compositions comprising cullet and methods of forming glass with cullet

1 . A soda lime glass batch composition, comprising:

from 1 weight % to 50 weight % a first plurality of glass cullet particles, wherein the first plurality of glass cullet particles have a maximum dimension of 5 mm or less and the glass cullet particles are organically contaminated;

from 50 weight % to 99 weight % other components of the glass batch, wherein the other components of the glass batch comprise silica sand, soda ash, and limestone; and

unavoidable impurities, wherein the unavoidable impurities are distinct from any organic contaminants present in the glass cullet particles;

wherein the organic contamination of the first plurality of glass cullet particles:

a. measured by loss on ignition (“LOI”) is from 0.5 weight % to 20 weight % of the first plurality of glass cullet particles;

b. measured by chemical oxygen demand (“COD”) is from 4,000 mg O 2 /L to 75,000 mg O 2 /L; and,

c. measured by combustion analysis provides a carbon content of from 0.30 weight % to 15 weight %.

2 . The glass batch composition according to claim 1 , wherein the organic contamination of the first plurality of glass cullet particles measured by loss on ignition (“LOI”) is: from 1.2 weight % to 20 weight % of the first plurality of glass cullet particles; or, from 2.5 weight % to 17.0 weight % of the first plurality of glass cullet particles.

3 . The glass batch composition according to claim 1 , wherein the organic contamination of the first plurality of glass cullet particles measured by chemical oxygen demand (“COD”) is: from 16,000 mg O 2 /L to 75,000 mg O 2 /L; or, from 15,000 mg O 2 /L to 63,000 mg O 2 /L.

4 . The glass batch composition according to claim 1 , wherein the organic contamination of the first plurality of glass cullet particles measured by combustion analysis provides: a carbon content of from 0.45 weight % to 11 weight %; or, a carbon content of from 1.5 weight % to 10 weight %.

5 . The glass batch composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of glass cullet particles:

have a maximum dimension of 2 mm or less; or,

have a maximum dimension of from 5 μm to 500 μm.

6 . The glass batch composition according to claim 1 , wherein the glass batch composition comprises from 1 weight % to 50 weight % a first plurality of glass cullet particles, wherein the glass cullet particles have a maximum dimension of 2 mm or less and the glass cullet particles are organically contaminated.

7 . The glass batch composition according to claim 1 , wherein the glass batch composition further comprises dolomite, sodium sulfate, or both dolomite and sodium sulfate.

8 . The glass batch composition of according to claim 1 , wherein the:

from 1 weight % to 50 weight % a first plurality of glass cullet particles component of the glass batch composition provides a contributing redox factor of from 0 to −1.5 to the glass batch composition; and/or,

wherein the glass batch composition has a batch redox number of: from −40 to +20.

9 . A method of forming glass, the method comprising:

introducing the glass batch composition according to claim 1 into a glass furnace;

heating the glass batch composition to produce a glass solution; and

cooling the glass solution to make a glass.

10 . The glass batch composition according to claim 1 , wherein the glass batch composition comprises from 1 weight % to 25 weight % a first plurality of glass cullet particles, wherein the glass cullet particles have a maximum dimension of 2 mm or less and the glass cullet particles are organically contaminated.

11 . The glass batch composition according to claim 1 , wherein the other components comprise a second plurality of glass cullet particles (optionally having a maximum dimension of greater than 5 mm), wherein the second plurality of glass cullet particles all have a maximum dimension greater than the first plurality of glass cullet particles.

12 . The glass batch composition according to claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of glass cullet particles, and optionally the second plurality of glass cullet particles, are organically contaminated with:

one or more of: cellulose, lignin, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, polymers and/or plastics; and/or,

one or more of: paper, glue, sugar, oil, fat, wood and/or cork.

13 . The glass batch composition according to claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of cullet particles, and/or the second plurality of cullet particles, absent organic contamination (the glass fraction) have a chemical composition comprising:

Fe 2 O 3 in an amount ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 weight %;

Al 2 O 3 in an amount ranging from 1.5 to 2.2 weight %;

K 2 O in an amount less than 1 weight %;

CaO in an amount ranging from 11 to 12 weight %;

MgO in an amount ranging from 1.3 to 1.6 weight %;

Na 2 O in an amount ranging from 12 to 13 weight %;

SiO 2 in an amount ranging from 70.31 to 73.84 weight %; and

Cr 2 O 3 in an amount ranging from 0.06 to 0.09 weight %.

14 . The glass batch composition according to claim 11 , wherein: the glass batch composition is a loose glass batch composition; and/or,

the first plurality of glass cullet particles is free of metals and/or ceramics.

15 . The glass batch composition according to claim 14 wherein the loose glass batch composition is not agglomerated in pellet or briquette form.

16 . The glass batch composition according to claim 14 wherein the second plurality of glass cullet particles is free of metals and/or ceramics.