Fields of Research in Optical Sorting of Different Types of Waste
Optical sorting appeared for the first time in 1994 in Germany, France and in the USA.
Initially, it was limited to the recognition of the main packaging types, as found in the "yellow bin", using the NIR spectroscopy to differentiate molecular bonds: PET, HDPE, PVC, Tetrapak were the main targets. Colour sorting was later introduced for very fine colour nuances (e.g. clear vs light blue bottles). Today, most MRFs in Europe use Optical Sorting for packaging.
A second sorting stage in recycling plants was needed, in order to be able to recycle high quality resins in a true closed loop: bottle to bottle PET recycling required less than 50 ppm final contamination, especially in PVC. This was achieved as early as 2001 in France, and a guaranteed contamination level of 10 ppm was achieved in 2011. However, the difficulty remains, as new types of bottles with specific challenges keep appearing: multilayers, blends, PVC labels, etc. Almost all recycling plants use Optical Sorting, but new problems keep arising every year.
The collection of all dry recyclables (packaging and paper / board) into one single stream is very common, especially in North America. In a Material Recovery Facility (MRF), a mix of mechanical solutions separates this stream into two fractions: flat bodies (paper/board), and hollow bodies (packaging). Optical sorting is then used for clean-up, e.g. removing remaining papers in bottle streams.
| Copyright: | © Thomé-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH | |
| Quelle: | Waste Management, Volume 3 (Oktober 2012) | |
| Seiten: | 12 | |
| Preis inkl. MwSt.: | € 0,00 | |
| Autor: | Dr. Antoine Bourely  | |
| Artikel weiterleiten | Artikel kostenfrei anzeigen | Artikel kommentieren |
Diese Fachartikel könnten Sie auch interessieren:
Wertstoffhof 2020 - Neuorientierung von Wertstoffhöfen
© ia GmbH - Wissensmanagement und Ingenieurleistungen (4/2015)
Im Jahr 2014, zwanzig Jahre nach dem durch das Bayerische Staatsministerium für Landesentwicklung und Umweltfragen organisierten Wettbewerb „Der vorbildliche Wertstoffhof“, ist es sicher angebracht, sich dem Thema erneut zuzuwenden. Was ist aus den prämierten Wertstoffhöfen der Preisträger in den jeweiligen Clustern geworden? Wie hat sich das System grundsätzlich entwickelt? Wo geht es hin, wenn man die gesellschaftlichen Anforderungen aus demografischer Entwicklung, Ressourcenschutz und Klimarelevanz betrachtet?
Post-Consumer Plastic Packaging Waste - How to Increase the Yield and Reduce the Cost
© Thomé-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH (10/2012)
Recycling schemes for post-consumer plastic packaging waste are politically motivated, create environmental benefits for the society and increase the business costs in general. These recycling schemes are shaped by the local presence of converting industries that are able to use the recyclates as raw materials. Choices for recycling schemes should therefore be based on the expected compliance, efficiency (the lowest environmental impacts for the least costs) and the present local industry.
Plastic Waste Recovery in Spain - Overview of the Market and Applied Technologies
© Thomé-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH (10/2012)
Plastic consumption in different Spanish industrial sectors was 2.840.000 tonnes in 2010 and generated approxomately 2.206.000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2010. About 23% of this waste was recycled and 17% recovered, being landfilled about 60% [2].
Gute Entwicklungschancen
© Rhombos-Verlag (1/2008)
Die deutsche Entsorgungswirtschaft verfügt über ein großes Potential für Umwelttechnik und Arbeitsplätze
Challenges of Mixed Plastics Recovery from MSW Sources in the United Kingdom
© Thomé-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH (10/2012)
Part of the integrated waste management approach in the United Kingdom is a mechanical pre-treatment of MSW prior to either EfW (Energy from Waste) or AD (Anaerobic Digestion). As a consequence of the pre-treatment some unwanted material is being separated form the primary target material, and in most cases this material contains some valuable sub grades. One of these sub grades is mixed plastic. The amount and quality of recoverable mixed plastics within MSW depends firstly on the collection and transfer and storage scheme prior to the mechanical pre-treamtent and secondly on the consumer and education from the Local Authority who is ultimately responsible for the local or regional waste management strategy and education.
