Gravity packaging final waste recovery based on gravity separation and chemical imaging control

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Waste Management
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Plastic polymers possess high calorific value, making post-consumer plastic waste a viable secondary solid fuel.
• Incineration with energy recovery is a key waste management strategy in Europe, reducing landfill waste.
• Comprehensive characterization of plastic waste is crucial for its effective utilization as fuel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate techniques for separating and characterizing post-consumer plastic packaging waste.
• To develop strategies for maximizing PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC) removal from plastic waste streams.
• To enhance the quality and value of Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) through effective waste characterization and processing.

Main Methods:

• Gravity separation using a Reflux Classifier.
• Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.
• Near-Infrared (NIR) HyperSpectral Imaging (HSI).
• Calorimetric testing.

Main Results:

• The study successfully demonstrated the separation and identification of various polymers including PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC), PolyStyrene (PS), PolyEthylene (PE), PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET), and PolyPropylene (PP).
• The proposed separation technique and NIR HyperSpectral Imaging approach effectively enabled the maximization of PVC removal.
• Quality control of the resulting products was achieved, confirming the potential for low PVC content in SRF.

Conclusions:

• Effective separation and characterization techniques, particularly NIR HSI, are vital for optimizing plastic waste utilization as SRF.
• Maximizing PVC removal significantly enhances SRF quality, value, and environmental benefits by reducing final waste.
• The developed analytical and control strategies provide a pathway for producing high-quality SRF with reduced hazardous components.