Tracer-based sorting

Tracer-Based-Sorting. Vereinfachte Sortierung von Plastik

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Tue, 03 May 2022 12:21:49 +0000

Tracer-Based-Sorting. Vereinfachte Sortierung von Plastik linda.mederake… Tue, 05/03/2022 - 14:21

Untertitel

Interview with Jochen Mößlein (in German)

Titelbild

Beschreibung

We all know, that plastics are a huge problem these days. Most people therefore separate their rubbish and throw plastic packaging in the yellow bag or in the yellow bin. But there is more that needs to be done. Because this plastic waste has to be sorted again, which is very difficult due to the immense number of different plastics. That is why lots of plastic waste still ends up in incineration and does not find its way back into the circular economy.

The Tracer-Based Sorting system aims to change that. It classifies the different materials and thus makes sorting easier. The technology was invented by the physicist Jochen Mößlein. He is the founder and managing director of Polysecure GmbH. radioeins conducted an interview with Jochen Mößlein in the run-up to the "Plastic in the Environment" theme day.

Further Links

Interview (in German)

Joint project

MaReK

Year

2022

Type of Result

video & audio

Factsheet 4: Tracer-Based-Sorting mit Fluoreszenz-Tracern - Effizientes und flexibles Sortieren von Kunststoffverpackungen

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 07:21:07 +0000

Factsheet 4: Tracer-Based Sorting with Fluorescent Tracers - Efficient and flexible sorting of plastic packaging janna.vakili@e… Thu, 04/15/2021 - 09:21

Titelbild

Beschreibung

The German Packaging Act calls for a significant increase in recycling rates for plastics. In order to be able to produce high-quality recyclates, plastic articles must be separated by type. However, there is currently a lack of satisfactory identification options for the many different plastics.

This is where the technology from MaReK comes in. The joint project successfully developed a detection system using fluorescence tracers, which can significantly improve the sorting and recycling of plastic packaging in the sense of a circular economy.

The fourth factsheet presents the technology, its application areas and its relevance in further detail. It is available here as a PDF download.

Attachments

Factsheet 4 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment.

Joint project

MaReK

Year

2021

Author

Jörg Woidasky

Claus Lang-Koetz

Johannes Gasde

Jochen Moesslein

Authors

Type of Result

factsheets

Citation

Woidasky, Jörg; Lang-Koetz, Claus; Gasde, Johannes, Moesslein, Jochen (2021): Tracer-Based Sorting with Fluorescent Tracers: Efficient and flexible sorting of plastic packaging. Fact sheet 4 of the BMBF research focus „Plastics in the Environment“.

MaReK

KALEH — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 16:01:40 +0000

MaReK KALEH Tue, 12/19/2017 - 17:01

Marker-Based Sorting and Recycling System for Plastic Packaging

The goal of this project was to set up a markerbased system for sorting and recycling that involves every stage from packaging development and sorting technology to high quality material reuse. The MaRek project demonstrated the usefulness of fluorescent markers for waste management applications. For this purpose, the use of the TBS technology developed and patented by the project partner Polysecure was piloted as a possible solution and then tested in an industry-relevant way, especially for the sorting of plastic packaging (LVP). The speed, effectiveness and economic efficiency of sorting different compositions of the collection fractions were investigated under industry-relevant boundary conditions. The project addressed the entire value chain of the packaging life cycle from design to process development for marker application and sorting to recovery of the materials. Approaches to a new packaging governance were elaborated with the relevant stakeholders and, in the medium term, should serve as a basis for more sustainable packaging use in addition to the technical results of the project. In this way, the developed process can make an important contribution to increasing the recycling rate required by the new packaging law.

Main areas of work

Representative recycling of lightweight plastic packaging including determination of the technical residual value (material properties) and the added value potential
New or further development and industrial testing of the "tracer-based sorting" method with real batches from separate collection (pilot plant), for this purpose further development of tracer and detection technology
Applied innovation research for the investigation of drivers and obstacles of the developed technology and their application in the complex structure of stakeholders
Comprehensive analysis of energy and material flows and an assessment of possible environmental impacts of the developed technology taking into account the life cycle perspective

Arbeitspakete

Work packages

WP 1 Packaging design and supply

Contact person
Immo Sander, Werner & Mertz GmbH, Rheinallee 96, 55120 Mainz, e-mail: isander@werner-mertz.com

Project partner
Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland, INEC – Pforzheim University, Polysecure

Short description
Development and provision of plastic packaging marked with markers from the non-food sector for the subsequent tests as well as the derivation of transferability potentials for further areas of application.

WP 2 Marker technology

Contact person
Prof. Dr. Bryce S. Richards, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, e-mail: bryce.richards@kit.edu

Project partner
Polysecure

Short description
Adaptation of the fluorescence markers to the intended application.

WP 3 TBS sorting technology

Contact person
Jochen Moesslein, Polysecure GmbH, Engesserstr. 4a, 79108 Freiburg, e-mail: jochen.moesslein@polysecure.eu

Project partner
Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland, INEC – Pforzheim University

Short description
Development of a TBS sorting machine for packaging including construction of a sorting pilot plant (sorting machine plus material feed and discharge as well as inline sensors).

WP 4 Sorting tests

Contact person
Stefan Wiethoff, Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurter Straße 720–726, 51145 Köln (Porz-Eil), e-mail: stefan.wiethoff@gruener-punkt.de

Project partner
INEC – Pforzheim University, Polysecure, Werner & Mertz

Short description
Large-scale validation tests including determination of the quality and material properties of the sorted fractions.

WP 5 Innovation and sustainability analysis

Contact person
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Lang-Koetz, Pforzheim University, Institute of Industrial Ecology, Tiefenbronner Straße 65, 75175 Pforzheim, e-mail: claus.lang-koetz@hs-pforzheim.de

Project partner
With the cooperation of all partners

Short description
Development of an energy and material flow model (economic, ecological, technical) and determination of the ecological and economic framework conditions as well as drivers and obstacles for a successful process on the market.

WP 6 Development of governance approaches

Contact person
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Lang-Koetz, Pforzheim University, Institute of Industrial Ecology, Tiefenbronner Straße 65, 75175 Pforzheim, e-mail: claus.lang-koetz@hs-pforzheim.de

Project partner
With the cooperation of all partners

Short description
Development of stakeholder-specific approaches to increase recycling rates and to improve material flow quality.

WP 7 Transfer of results and external impact

Contact person
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Woidasky, Pforzheim University, Institute of Industrial Ecology, Tiefenbronner Straße 65, 75175 Pforzheim, e-mail: joerg.woidasky@hs-pforzheim.de

Project partner
With the cooperation of all partners

Short description
Informing the public about the results.

Coordinator

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Lang-Koetz und Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Woidasky,
Hochschule Pforzheim University,
Institute of Industrial Ecology/ INEC
Tiefenbronner Straße 65
75175 Pforzheim
Phone: 07231/28-6427 bzw. -6489
e-mail: claus.lang-koetz@hs-pforzheim.de; joerg.woidasky@hs-pforzheim.de

Website

https://www.hs-pforzheim.de/en/research/research_institutes/inec/projects/marek

Partner Institutions

Polysecure GmbH

Werner & Mertz GmbH

Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland GmbH

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Microstructure Technology / KIT-IMT

Associated Partners

Umwelttechnik BW GmbH, State Agency for Environmental Technology and Resource Efficiency Baden-Württemberg / UTBW

Subcontractor

CMO-SYS GmbH

Nägele Mechanik GmbH