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Visual-Acoustic Sensor-Aided Sorting Efficiency Optimization of Automotive Shredder Polymer Residues Using
Jiu Huang1, Chaorong Xu2, Zhuangzhuang Zhu3
1School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China. jhuang@cumt.edu.cn.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 16, 2019
Summary
A new 3D imaging method significantly improves the sorting of automotive shredder residue (ASR) plastics, enhancing recycling efficiency for materials like polypropylene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. This advancement tackles environmental challenges posed by end-of-life vehicles.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Recycling Technology
Background:
- Vehicle lightweighting with polymers complicates end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling.
- Automotive shredder residues (ASRs) contain a significant portion of unrecyclable polymers, often landfilled.
- Current ASR separation methods have limited efficiency due to inaccurate scrap size determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an accurate particle size determination method for ASR plastics.
- To improve the sorting efficiency of polymer fractions within ASRs.
- To enhance the recycling of polymers from end-of-life vehicles.
Main Methods:
- Proposed a novel method using 3D imaging and circularity analysis for accurate equivalent particle size determination.
- Applied sensor-aided sorting with laser-triangulation and acoustic frequency recognition.
- Investigated common automotive plastics: polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), and their composites (PP/EPDM, ABS/PC).
Main Results:
- The new 3D imaging method significantly improved sorting accuracy compared to mechanical sieving.
- Sorting efficiencies increased by approximately 15% for PP/EPDM and 20% for PP.
- Substantial sorting efficiency gains were achieved for ABS (70%) and ABS/PC (90%).
Conclusions:
- 3D imaging and circularity analysis offer a more accurate approach to particle size determination in ASRs.
- Sensor-aided sorting combined with advanced imaging optimizes the recycling of ASR polymer scraps.
- This technology presents a viable solution for reducing landfill waste from end-of-life vehicles.
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