Recycling

Progress in the field of recycling means the application of modern techniques to sort complex material streams. By using innovative process and analysis technology, nowadays in any phase of the recycling process an objective evaluation of the material has become possible. Thus, a consistent and high quality of all discharged material flow may be guaranteed accordingly.

From an economic and at the same time ecologic point of view, particularly the recycling of steel, aluminium and other metals is of importance, as those materials may pass the recycling process as often as desired without any quality loss. The LIBS analysis technology can make an important contribution here.

The multi-element analysers of the MopaLIBS series are high-performance sensor systems for classification and analysis of inorganic materials as ferrous and non-ferrous metals and minerals. They can be applied in highly automated measurement and sorting processes and easily adapted to different innovative sorting strategies.

Until now, the sorting of aluminium scrap into the alloy groups, 1.xxx – 7.xxx has not been practical on an industrial scale since no inline industrial analytics were available to do this. With the MopaLIBS element analyser, these materials can be sorted into close specification categories quickly and reliably. Due to separation into pure grades of aluminium alloy groups 1.xxx to 7.xxx, the recycling at the same value stage is possible.

The chemical compositions of commercially used aluminium alloys are listed in DIN EN 573-3 and ANSI H35.1. According to these standards, a lookup table containing the alloy groups to be classiefied is stored on the MopaLIBS. The user can access and modify this table easily to adapt the sorting criteria as required. The calibration methods in the MopaLIBS calculate the elemental concentration of Mg, Si, Fe, Cu, Mn, Ti, Zn, Cr, Pb, Zr from the spectral information. Afterwards, based on calculated concentrations the object is assigned to an alloy class according to the ranges defined in the lookup table. This information is forwarded to the sorting equipment.

The growing use of high tensile steels (e.g. in automotive manufacturing) leads to more and more complex blends in the secondary materials flow as process scrap or shredder scrap.

For the scrap recycling in foundries the knowledge about the Mn, Cr, Ti and Cu content is crucial. With the MopaLIBS process measurement system the scrap can be analysed piecewise prior to recycling in the foundries. Based on the analysed elemental concentration values the objects can be assigned to predefined customer categories and sorted accordingly.

The MopaLIBS elemental analyser enables the precise determination of the elemental composition of steel scrap at transport speeds up to 3 m/s. With optional preablation laser even contaminated or coated materials can be analysed. As core element of high-performance sorting plants, the MopaLIBS system provides reliable sorting decisions within few milliseconds. These systems were developed with regard to application in the recycling industry and operate reliably under demanding conditions for many years.

NF metals are a very heterogeneous but nevertheless valuable material flow in today’s metal recycling plants. So far, a variety of different analysis and sorting techniques are required to divide these flows into pure single material fractions. Due to low absolute weights of particular fractions they are not sorted properly and thus, no added value is generated.

With LIBS, all metals included in a NF fraction (e.g. Zorba) can be identified reliably. With a single sorting system, it is possible to divide 10 or even more classes from each other in one sorting stage.

The MopaLIBS elemental analysers allow cost-efficient and long-term stable operation.

Refractories are essential materials in the metal and glass industry. During operation they are exposed to strong thermal fluctuations and chemical treatments limiting the life time. Instead of generating expensive waste flows, the recycling of refractory materials will reduce the demand of primary material significantly. For the fabrication of high-quality reclaimed materials, a type-based and precise sorting is required.

With the MopaLIBS sensor systems, refractory materials can be analysed precisely. In combination with a suitable sorting equipment a type-based, precise recycling of refractories becomes possible.

In cooperation with our long-standing partner, Horn & Co. Group, we provide a mature technical solution for the realisation of closed raw-material cycles for refractories.