Glass sorting method, glass sorting device, and glass sorting system

Abstract

Provided is a glass sorting method for sorting specific glass from a material flow (M) including a plurality of types of glass. In the glass sorting method: electromagnetic waves (Ea) are projected onto the material flow (M); from electromagnetic waves (Eb) generated by the material flow (M), a specific electromagnetic wave generated by an identification element included beforehand in the specific glass is detected so as to identify the specific glass; and the identified specific glass is separated from the material flow (M).

Description

Glass sorting method, glass sorting device, and glass sorting system

[0001] The present invention relates to a glass sorting method, a glass sorting device, and a glass sorting system.

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for recycling glass products from the perspective of resource circulation and greenhouse gas reduction.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for analyzing the purity of waste glass. In this apparatus, samples are taken from a stream of waste glass processed by sampling, flowed into a free-falling track, foreign particles are blown off and removed, and the weight of each group of detected non-ferrous metal foreign particles and opaque foreign particles is measured. Furthermore, the purity of the processed waste glass is determined by determining the ratio of non-ferrous metals added to the total sample amount and the ratio of opaque foreign particles added to the total sample amount to determine the quality of the sample.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-227786

[0005] However, when various types of glass with different compositions are mixed together, it is necessary to separate these different types of glass, but it is difficult to separate and recycle various types of glass with different compositions using the device for analyzing the purity of waste glass described in Patent Document 1. For this reason, many discarded glass products and some of the defective glass generated in intermediate processes are currently discarded without being recycled.

[0006] Furthermore, in order to recycle glass, it is necessary to separate and remove metals, ceramics, and organic substances that are mixed in with the target glass. However, existing technologies, such as optical sorting machines, have limitations in their ability to separate and remove these foreign substances.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a glass sorting method, a glass sorting device, and a glass sorting system that can improve recycling efficiency.

[0008] The present invention comprises the following components: (1) A glass sorting method for sorting a specific glass from a material flow containing multiple types of glass, comprising: irradiating the material flow with electromagnetic waves; identifying the specific glass by detecting specific electromagnetic waves generated in the material flow due to an identifying element previously contained in the specific glass; and separating the identified specific glass from the material flow. (2) A glass sorting device for sorting a specific glass from a material flow containing multiple types of glass, comprising: an irradiation unit that irradiates the material flow with electromagnetic waves; a detection unit that detects specific electromagnetic waves generated in the material flow due to an identifying element previously contained in the specific glass to identify the specific glass; and a separation unit that separates the identified specific glass from the material flow by injecting air. (3) A glass sorting system comprising the glass sorting device according to (2) above, and provided upstream of the sorting device with at least one of: an organic matter removal device that removes organic matter from the material flow; an outer shape adjustment device that aligns materials constituting the material flow to an outer shape within a specific range; a weight adjustment device that aligns materials constituting the material flow to a specific range of specific gravity or weight; a metal removal device that removes metal from the material flow; and an opaque material removal device that removes opaque material from the material flow; and provided upstream or downstream of the sorting device with a dissolving device that dissolves acid-soluble materials in the material flow with an acid solution containing at least one of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a glass sorting method, a glass sorting device, and a glass sorting system that can improve recycling efficiency.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a glass sorting device according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a detection unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the irradiation angle and detection angle of electromagnetic waves of the detection unit. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the detection unit showing another example of the irradiation angle and detection angle. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the detection unit as viewed from below. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a detection unit with another configuration as viewed from below. FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a glass sorting device with another configuration. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a glass sorting system including a glass sorting device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating various processes in the glass sorting system.

[0011] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and can be modified as desired without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the term "to" indicating a range of values ​​is used to mean that the values ​​before and after it are included as the lower and upper limits.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a glass sorting apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the glass sorting apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment sorts a specific glass from a material flow M containing multiple types of glass. Hereinafter, the glass sorting apparatus 100 will also be simply referred to as the sorting apparatus 100. The material flow M contains multiple types of glass cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc, and the sorting apparatus 100 selectively separates the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc from the material flow M.

[0013] The sorting device 100 is equipped with a transport conveyor 11. The transport conveyor 11 is composed of a pair of rollers 13, 15 and an endless belt 17 wound around these rollers 13, 15. One of the rollers 13 of the transport conveyor 11 is a drive roller, and this roller 13 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow R in FIG. 1 . The belt 17 runs in a fixed direction as a result of the rotation of the roller 13. The transport conveyor 11 transports a material flow M in this transport direction A, with the running direction of the upper side of the belt 17 being defined as transport direction A.

[0014] An input section 19 is provided upstream of the conveyor 11, and the material flow M is fed from this input section 19. The input section 19 is composed of a vibrating feeder, and feeds the material flow M into the conveyor 11 while vibrating it. The input section 19 can feed the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc of the material flow M into the conveyor 11 without overlapping each other by adjusting the strength and speed of the vibration, for example, in accordance with the weight of the material flow M and the running speed of the belt 17. Therefore, the conveyor 11 conveys the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc of the material flow M fed onto the belt 17 from the input section 19 in the conveying direction A without overlapping each other.

[0015] The sorting device 100 includes a detection unit 20 and a separation unit 30. The detection unit 20 is disposed between a pair of rollers 13, 15 above the transport conveyor 11, facing the upper surface of the belt 17. The separation unit 30 is disposed downstream of the transport conveyor 11, below the upper surface of the belt 17.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the detection unit 20. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the irradiation angle of the electromagnetic wave Ea and the detection angle of the electromagnetic wave Eb of the detection unit 20. Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the detection unit 20 showing other examples of the irradiation angle and detection angle. Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of the detection unit 20 as viewed from below. Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of a detection unit 20 with another configuration as viewed from below.

[0017] 2, the detection unit 20 has an irradiation section 21 and a detection section 23. The irradiation section 21 is disposed upstream in the conveying direction A, and the detection section 23 is disposed downstream in the conveying direction A.

[0018] The irradiation unit 21 is an electromagnetic wave irradiation source, and irradiates electromagnetic waves Ea consisting of X-rays, gamma rays, or light with a wavelength of 190 nm to 1100 nm toward the material flow M transported by the transport conveyor 11. As a light source capable of irradiating electromagnetic waves with wavelengths in this range, a low-pressure mercury lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a UV LED, an LED, a semiconductor laser, etc. can be appropriately used.

[0019] The detection unit 23 detects specific electromagnetic waves in the electromagnetic waves Eb generated in the material flow M. These specific electromagnetic waves are emitted to cullets Ca and Cb, which are made of specific glass and contain an identification element, among the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc in the material flow M, and are excited by the irradiated light to generate electromagnetic waves. The detection unit 23 detects these specific electromagnetic waves to identify the specific glass cullets Ca and Cb. The detection unit 23 detects the specific electromagnetic waves by any of fluorometry, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA), and pulsed fast thermal neutron activation analysis (PFTNA).

[0020] When the detection unit 20 detects the specific electromagnetic wave by the detection section 23, the detection unit 20 generates a control signal according to the type of the specific electromagnetic wave and transmits it to the air nozzle 33 of the separation unit 30, which will be described later.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3 , the irradiation angle θ of the electromagnetic wave Ea irradiated from the irradiation unit 21 toward the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc is set to 5° to 85°. The irradiation angle θ is preferably 15° to 70°, and more preferably 30° to 60°. When the electromagnetic wave Ea is irradiated from the irradiation unit 21 at the irradiation angle θ, the detection angle δ of the electromagnetic wave Eb generated by the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc and guided to the detection unit 23 is preferably not the same as the irradiation angle θ, in order to prevent reflected light from entering the detection unit 23. This allows the electromagnetic wave Ea irradiated from the irradiation unit 21 to be irradiated onto the material flow M, and the electromagnetic wave Eb generated by the material flow M to be efficiently guided to the detection unit 23. Therefore, the detection unit 23 can detect the electromagnetic wave Eb at a high detection speed. As shown in Figure 4, the electromagnetic waves Eb irradiated from the irradiation unit 21, generated by the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc, and guided to the detection unit 23 may be generated vertically upward and detected by the detection unit 23.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5 , the irradiation unit 21 is long and is arranged across the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A. This allows the electromagnetic wave Ea to be irradiated across the entire width direction of the conveyor 11. Furthermore, multiple, for example, four, detectors 23 are provided. The detectors 23 are arranged along the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A. The number of detectors 23 varies depending on the size of the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc and the type of detector 23. For example, when an X-ray detector is used as the detector 23, it is preferable to arrange multiple, for example, four detectors 23 at intervals according to the size of the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc. Furthermore, when a color camera is used as the detector 23, it is preferable to arrange, as shown in FIG. 6 , a number of detectors 23, for example, two, that can capture the entire width direction of the conveyor 11, lined up in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A. In this way, by arranging the plurality of detecting sections 23 in the detecting unit 20 in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A, it is possible to detect the electromagnetic waves Eb at a high detection speed.

[0023] 1, the separation unit 30 separates cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc from the material flow M transported by the transport conveyor 11. The separation unit 30 includes a slope 31, an air nozzle 33, and a separation container 35.

[0024] The slope 31 is disposed between the downstream end of the transport conveyor 11 and the separation container 35, inclined downward toward the separation container 35. The cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc transported by the transport conveyor 11 are fed onto the slope 31 from the downstream end of the transport conveyor 11. The cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc fed onto the slope 31 slide down the surface of the slope 31 toward the separation container 35. The slope 31 may have a width dimension approximately the same as that of the belt 17.

[0025] The air nozzle 33 is attached to the slope 31. The air nozzle 33 is arranged on the back side of the slope 31 and sprays air from the surface of the slope 31. The detection unit 20 is connected to the air nozzle 33, and a control signal is sent from the detection unit 20 to the air nozzle 33. The air spray timing and spray force of the air nozzle 33 are controlled by the control signal sent from the detection unit 20. The falling positions of the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc sliding down the slope 31 are changed by the air sprayed from the air nozzle 33. The air nozzle 33 may have, for example, a plurality of nozzle portions arranged along the width direction of the slope 31.

[0026] The separation container 35 has a plurality of storage sections 35A, 35B, and 35C. These storage sections 35A, 35B, and 35C are arranged at different distances from the slope 31. The storage sections 35A, 35B, and 35C are arranged in ascending order of distance from the slope 31. Cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc that are fed from the transport conveyor 11 and slide down the slope 31 are separated by type and stored in the storage sections 35A, 35B, and 35C of the separation container 35. Specifically, cullet Ca is stored in storage section 35A, cullet Cb is stored in storage section 35B, and cullet Cc is stored in storage section 35C.

[0027] In the glass sorting apparatus 100 configured as described above, the specific glass contained in the material flow M fed into the input section 19 already contains an identifying element. This identifying element is at least one of Rh, Au, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, I, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, U, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb.

[0028] The total concentration of the one or more identifying elements contained in the specific glass is preferably 0.01% to 2.00% in mole percent on an oxide basis, which allows the detection section 23 of the detection unit 20 to accurately and quickly identify the specific glass.

[0029] Here, the identifying elements Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, I, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, and U are elements suitable for identification by X-ray fluorescence analysis, and Nb, W, Bi, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb are elements suitable for identification by fluorometry.

[0030] In particular, the identification elements Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, and Sb are suitable for identification by X-ray fluorescence analysis.

[0031] Furthermore, the identifying element is preferably any one of Nb, W, and Bi, which are suitable for identification by both X-ray fluorescence analysis and fluorophotometric method.

[0032] The preferred range and effects of each discriminating element will be described in detail below.

[0033] Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Ag, In, Sn, Sb, and Te can be identified by X-ray fluorescence analysis, and their concentrations within a specific range are effective. The concentrations of Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Ge, Ag, In, and Te are preferably 0.01% or more, more preferably 0.02% or more, even more preferably 0.03% or more, and most preferably 0.05% or more, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. The concentrations of these elements are preferably 1.00% or less, more preferably 0.50% or less, even more preferably 0.30% or less, and most preferably 0.10% or less, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. By keeping the concentrations of the identifying elements Co, Ni, and Cu within the above ranges, the visible light transmittance is prevented from becoming too low. Furthermore, by having the concentrations of Ga, Ge, Ag, In, and Te within the above ranges, the density is not too high and the cost is not too high.

[0034] The concentrations of Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Sn, and Sb are each preferably 0.05% or more, more preferably 0.10% or more, even more preferably 0.30% or more, and most preferably 0.50% or more, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. The concentrations of these elements are each preferably 1.50% or less, more preferably 1.20% or less, and even more preferably 1.00% or less, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. By having the concentrations of each of the identifying elements Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Sn, and Sb within the above ranges, the effect of preventing the density from becoming too heavy is obtained. Furthermore, Rb also has the effect of preventing excessive deterioration in weather resistance.

[0035] The concentration of Se, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis, is preferably 0.01% or more, more preferably 0.02% or more, and even more preferably 0.03% or more. Furthermore, the concentration of Se, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis, is preferably 1.00% or less, more preferably 0.50% or less, even more preferably 0.30% or less, and most preferably 0.10% or less. By keeping the concentration of the identifying element Se within the above range, the effect of preventing the density from becoming too heavy is obtained.

[0036] The concentration of Mo, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis, is preferably 0.01% or more, more preferably 0.10% or more, and even more preferably 0.30% or more. The concentration of Mo, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis, is preferably 1.50% or less, more preferably 1.20% or less, and even more preferably 1.00% or less. By keeping the concentration of the identifying element Mo within the above range, the visible light transmittance is not too low and the density is not too heavy.

[0037] Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb can be identified by fluorometry, and their concentrations within a specific range are effective. The concentrations of Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb are preferably 0.05% or more, more preferably 0.10% or more, even more preferably 0.30% or more, and most preferably 0.50% or more, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. The concentrations of these elements are preferably 1.50% or less, more preferably 1.20% or less, and even more preferably 1.00% or less, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. By ensuring that the concentrations of the identifying elements Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb are within the above ranges, the visible light transmittance is not too low and the density is not too heavy.

[0038] Nb, W, and Bi can be identified by X-ray fluorescence analysis and by fluorometry. The concentrations of Nb, W, and Bi are each preferably 0.05% or more, more preferably 0.10% or more, even more preferably 0.30% or more, and most preferably 0.50% or more, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. The concentrations of these elements are preferably 1.50% or less, more preferably 1.20% or less, and even more preferably 1.00% or less, expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. By having the concentrations of the identifying elements Nb, W, and Bi within the above ranges, the visible light transmittance is not too low and the density is not too heavy.

[0039] Furthermore, when the electromagnetic wave Ea irradiated to the material flow M by the irradiation section 21 of the detection unit 20 is an X-ray and the detection section 23 is a semiconductor detector, the target used for the X-ray source is preferably any one of Rh, Ta, Au and Mo.

[0040] In addition, the specific glass that becomes cullet Ca and Cb has a specific gravity of 2.2 g / cm ３ ~3.0 g / cm ３ It is preferable that:

[0041] Next, a case where glass is sorted using the glass sorting device 100 having the above-described configuration will be described.

[0042] (Conveying Process) In the sorting device 100, a material flow M containing multiple types of glass is fed into the input section 19. The materials constituting this material flow M have an outer diameter of, for example, 1 mm or more and 50 mm or less, and include, for example, cullets Ca and Cb of specific glass containing an identifying element, and cullet Cc of glass other than the specific glass. In the input section 19, the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc of the material flow M are vibrated so that they are fed into the transport conveyor 11 without overlapping with each other, and are transported by the transport conveyor 11 in the transport direction A without overlapping with each other.

[0043] (Irradiation step) Electromagnetic waves Ea are irradiated from the irradiation section 21 of the detection unit 20 to the material flow M being transported by the transport conveyor 11. At this time, the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc of the material flow M are transported without overlapping with each other, so that the electromagnetic waves Ea irradiated from the irradiation section 21 can be evenly irradiated onto the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc.

[0044] (Detection Step) The electromagnetic wave Eb generated by the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc in the material flow M due to the irradiation of the electromagnetic wave Ea is captured by the detection section 23 of the detection unit 20, and the specific electromagnetic wave generated by the identifying element contained in advance in the specific glass in the electromagnetic wave Eb is detected. Then, the cullets Ca and Cb of the specific glass in the material flow M are selectively identified based on this specific electromagnetic wave.

[0045] Here, the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc of the material flow M are transported without overlapping with each other, and the irradiation angle θ of the irradiated electromagnetic wave Ea and the detection angle δ of the generated electromagnetic wave Eb are adjusted within a certain range. Furthermore, the detection unit 20 is equipped with a plurality of detection sections 23. Therefore, specific electromagnetic waves in the electromagnetic wave Eb generated by the cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc can be detected quickly and accurately by the detection sections 23.

[0046] (Separation Process) When cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc from the material flow M slide down the slope 31 of the separation unit 30, they are separated by air pulses sprayed from the air nozzle 33 and sorted into the respective storage sections 35A, 35B, and 35C of the separation container 35. For example, cullets Ca and Cb identified as specific glass by the detection section 23 of the detection unit 20 have their falling positions changed by air sprayed from the air nozzle 33, and are sorted and stored in the storage sections 35A and 35B of the separation container 35, respectively. Cullet Cc that was not identified as specific glass does not have its falling position changed by the air nozzle 33, and slides down the slope 31 to be stored in the storage section 35C. Note that air may also be sprayed on the cullet Cc to change its falling position.

[0047] As described above, the glass sorting device 100 according to this embodiment can identify a specific glass containing an identifying element from the material stream M containing multiple types of glass by irradiating the material stream M with electromagnetic waves Ea and detecting a specific electromagnetic wave from the electromagnetic waves Eb generated in the material stream M. The glass sorting device 100 can then selectively separate the identified specific glass from the material stream M. This allows for more precise sorting of the specific glass from the material stream M containing multiple types of glass, thereby improving recycling efficiency.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a glass sorting apparatus 100 with another configuration. As shown in FIG. 7, the sorting apparatus 100 may be configured such that detection units 20 are provided above and below the belt 17 of the transport conveyor 11, i.e., on the upper and lower sides of the upper belt 17. This configuration of the sorting apparatus 100 enables detection of specific electromagnetic waves on both the upper and lower sides of the upper belt 17. This allows the installation of detection units 23 at twice the density, doubling the area that can be analyzed per unit time and enabling processing at twice the line speed, thereby enabling more rapid identification of specific glass in the material flow M. Meanwhile, by comparing the detection results of the detection units 20 provided on both the upper and lower sides of the upper belt 17, specific glass can be more accurately identified. For example, it is known that Sn penetrates one side of plate glass produced by the float process, and this allows for more accurate identification of glass with slightly different compositions on both sides.

[0049] In this case, a mesh belt or a light-transmitting belt having gaps is used as the belt 17 of the transport conveyor 11. As the mesh belt, it is preferable that the width of the gaps is 0.1 mm or more and less than 5.0 mm, and the thickness of the threads constituting the mesh is 0.1 mm or more and less than 5.0 mm.

[0050] Next, a glass sorting system 200 including the sorting device 100 will be described. Hereinafter, the glass sorting system 200 will also be simply referred to as the sorting system 200. Figure 8 is a block diagram of the glass sorting system 200 including the glass sorting device 100.

[0051] As shown in Figure 8, a sorting system 200 equipped with the sorting device 100 includes, upstream of the sorting device 100, an organic matter removal device 201, a dissolving device 202, a shape adjustment device 203, a weight adjustment device 204, a metal removal device 205, and an opaque material removal device 206.

[0052] The organic matter removal device 201 removes organic matter, such as adhesives, attached to the materials constituting the material flow M by burning or washing.

[0053] The dissolving device 202 dissolves and removes acid-soluble substances attached to the materials constituting the material flow M using an acid solution containing at least one of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid. Examples of acid-soluble substances include iron, copper, and the like.

[0054] The outer shape adjusting device 203 adjusts the size of the material constituting the material flow M to an outer shape of 1 mm to 50 mm, which is a size suitable for sorting by the sorting device 100, for example, using a sieve or mesh.

[0055] The weight adjustment device 204 removes lightweight materials, such as silicon cells for solar cells and resins, and materials with particularly high specific gravities, such as heavy metals and precious metals, from the material flow M, adjusting the weight of the materials constituting the material flow M to a weight suitable for sorting by the sorting device 100. Examples of this weight adjustment device 204 include an air sorter, an air table, or a specific gravity sorter. An air sorter blows air onto the material flow M to separate light and heavy materials. An air table separates light and heavy materials into two or more types by blowing air from below a table with fine holes and rocking the table. A specific gravity sorter introduces the material flow M into a sorting chamber containing a solution previously adjusted to an appropriate specific gravity, and separates materials with a lower specific gravity than the solution from materials with a higher specific gravity.

[0056] The metal removal device 205 removes metals such as iron, copper or aluminum from the material flow M by magnetic force or eddy current.

[0057] The opaque material removal device 206 removes opaque materials such as ceramics contained in the material flow M. As the opaque material removal device 206, for example, a visible light transmission optical sorter that determines whether a material is opaque or not from an image captured by a camera is used.

[0058] Next, a description will be given of various processes performed by the above-described sorting system 200. Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating various processes performed by the glass sorting system 200.

[0059] The brought-in waste materials are sorted (Step S1). In this sorting process, large waste materials whose glass type can be determined without using the sorting device 100 are removed. The glass portion of the removed large waste materials is taken out and the type is determined, and then the removed large waste materials are either recycled or discarded (Step S2).

[0060] The amount of dirt adhering to the material constituting the material flow M from which the large waste materials have been removed is determined (step S3).

[0061] If it is determined that the substances constituting the material flow M are contaminated (step S3: Yes), a cleaning process is performed on the material flow M (step S4). In this cleaning process, among the contaminants adhering to the substances constituting the material flow M, organic substances are removed by an organic substance removal device 201, and acid-soluble substances are removed by a dissolving device 202.

[0062] The material flow M from which the dirt adhering thereto has been removed by the cleaning process is dried by a dryer or the like (step S5) and sent to the next process. Note that the material flow M without any dirt adhering thereto is sent to the next process without being subjected to the cleaning process (step S4). At this time, if the material flow M is wet (step S6), this material flow M is dried by a dryer or the like (step S5) and sent to the next process.

[0063] The material flow M is subjected to a shape adjustment process by the shape adjustment device 203 (step S7). In this shape adjustment process, the shape of the materials constituting the material flow M is adjusted to a size of 1 mm or more and 50 mm or less. Materials with a shape less than 1 mm are cascaded and reused as materials for other applications, such as insulation or roadbed materials (step S8). Materials with a shape greater than 50 mm are crushed by a crusher or the like (step S9) and returned to the shape adjustment device 203 for the shape adjustment process (step S7). Materials that cannot be crushed and contain ductile materials such as metals and resins are recovered and used as resources for other applications (step S10).

[0064] The weight adjustment device 204 performs a weight adjustment process on the material flow M whose external dimensions have been adjusted (step S11). In this weight adjustment process, the materials contained in the material flow M are fractionated according to their specific gravity and weight, and materials whose specific gravity and weight are outside a specific range are removed. That is, in this material weight adjustment process, materials with low specific gravity or light weight, as well as materials with very high specific gravity or very heavy weight, are removed from the material flow M. The removed resin and materials used as Si cells for solar panels are recovered and used as resources for other applications (step S12-1). Meanwhile, the removed materials, such as heavy metals and precious metals, are recovered and used as resources for other applications (step S12-2).

[0065] After the weight adjustment step, the material flow M is subjected to a metal removal step by the metal removal device 205 (step S13). In this metal removal step, metals such as iron, copper, or aluminum contained in the material flow M are removed. The removed metals are recovered and used as resources (step S14).

[0066] After the metal removal process, the material flow M is subjected to an opaque material removal process by the opaque material removal device 206 (step S15). In this opaque material removal process, opaque materials other than glass, such as ceramics, contained in the material flow M are removed. This allows the glass cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc contained in the material flow M to be smoothly sorted by the sorting device 100. The removed opaque materials are, for example, cascaded and reused (step S16).

[0067] Thereafter, the material flow M consisting of glass cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc is sent to the sorting device 100, where the sorting step (step S17) is carried out by the sorting device 100 and the material flow M is separated.

[0068] In this way, the sorting system 200 equipped with the sorting device 100 can convert waste materials into a material flow M consisting of glass cullets Ca, Cb, and Cc, allowing subsequent sorting by the sorting device 100 to be performed accurately and quickly. In other words, the material flow M can be made into a state that allows it to be sorted accurately and quickly by the sorting device 100, thereby improving the sorting accuracy by the sorting device 100 and increasing the recycling efficiency of glass contained in waste materials, etc.

[0069] In the above-described sorting system 200, the dissolving device 202 may be disposed downstream of the sorting device 100, and the dissolving step may be performed after the sorting step by the sorting device 100.

[0070] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the scope of protection is intended to cover the mutual combination of the respective components of the embodiments, and modifications and applications by those skilled in the art based on the description in the specification and well-known techniques. For example, the above-described sorting system 200 does not need to include at least one of the organic matter removal device 201, the dissolving device 202, the outer shape adjustment device 203, the weight adjustment device 204, the metal removal device 205, and the opaque material removal device 206.

[0071] As described above, the present specification discloses the following: (1) A glass sorting method for sorting a specific glass from a material flow containing multiple types of glass, comprising: irradiating the material flow with electromagnetic waves; detecting specific electromagnetic waves generated in the electromagnetic waves from the material flow, the specific electromagnetic waves being generated by an identifying element previously contained in the specific glass, thereby identifying the specific glass; and separating the identified specific glass from the material flow. According to this glass sorting method, by irradiating the material flow with electromagnetic waves and detecting the specific electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic waves generated in the material flow, it is possible to identify and separate a specific glass that previously contains an identifying element from a material flow containing multiple types of glass. This allows for more detailed sorting of glass from a material flow containing multiple types of glass, improving recycling efficiency.

[0072] (2) The glass sorting method according to (1), wherein the identifying element is at least one of Rh, Au, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, I, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, U, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb. According to this glass sorting method, specific glasses can be accurately identified and quickly sorted by the specific identifying element contained in the glass.

[0073] (3) The method for sorting glass according to (2), wherein the material flow is irradiated with X-rays, the target of which is at least one of Rh, Ta, Au, and Mo, as the electromagnetic waves used in an X-ray source, and the specific electromagnetic waves generated by the identifying element are detected by a semiconductor detector. According to this method for sorting glass, when the electromagnetic waves irradiated to the material flow in the irradiation step are X-rays, the semiconductor detector can accurately identify and quickly sort the specific glass.

[0074] (4) The method for sorting glass according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the total concentration of the identifying element contained in the specific glass is 0.01% to 2.00% expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. According to this method for sorting glass, by setting the total concentration of the identifying element contained in the specific glass to 0.01% to 2.00% expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis, the specific glass can be accurately identified and quickly sorted.

[0075] (5) The specific glass has a specific gravity of 2.2 g / cm ３ ~3.0 g / cm ３ According to this glass sorting method, the glass having a specific gravity of 2.2 g / cm ３ ~3.0 g / cm ３ The specific glass can be accurately identified.

[0076] (6) The method for sorting glass according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the substances constituting the material flow have an outer diameter of 1 mm or more and 50 mm or less. According to this method for sorting glass, by aligning the outer diameters of the substances constituting the material flow to 1 mm or more and 50 mm or less, it is possible to sort a specific glass accurately and quickly.

[0077] (7) The method for sorting glass according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the electromagnetic wave irradiated onto the material flow is X-ray, gamma ray, or light having a wavelength of 190 nm to 1100 nm. According to this method for sorting glass, a specific glass can be accurately identified by irradiating the material flow with X-ray, gamma ray, or light having a wavelength of 190 nm to 1100 nm.

[0078] (8) A method for sorting glass according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the irradiation angle of the electromagnetic waves irradiated onto the material flow is not the same as the detection angle of the electromagnetic waves generated by the material flow. This glass sorting method suppresses the intrusion of reflected light into a detection unit that detects specific electromagnetic waves, and allows the electromagnetic waves generated by the material flow to be efficiently guided to the detection unit, thereby enabling the electromagnetic waves generated by the material flow to be detected at a high detection speed.

[0079] (9) A method for sorting glass according to any one of (1) to (8), in which the specific electromagnetic waves are detected by any one of fluorometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis, and pulsed fast thermal neutron activation analysis. According to this method for sorting glass, the specific electromagnetic waves are detected by any one of fluorometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis, and pulsed fast thermal neutron activation analysis, and the specific glass can be accurately identified.

[0080] (10) The method for sorting glass according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the selected specific glass is separated from the material flow by a jet of air. According to this method for sorting glass, the specific glass can be easily separated from the material flow by a jet of air.

[0081] (11) The method for sorting glass according to any one of (1) to (10), further comprising, as a pre-step before the irradiation step, performing at least one of the following: removing organic matter from the material flow; aligning the materials constituting the material flow to have a specific range of outer shape; aligning the materials constituting the material flow to have a specific range of specific gravity or weight; removing metals from the material flow; and removing opaque materials from the material flow; and dissolving acid-soluble materials in the material flow with an acid solution containing at least one of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid before irradiating the material flow with the electromagnetic waves or after separating the specific glass from the material flow. This glass sorting method allows the material flow to be accurately and quickly sorted into a state in which the specific glass can be sorted. This improves the accuracy of sorting the specific glass and also increases the recycling efficiency of glass contained in waste materials, etc.

[0082] (12) A glass sorting device for sorting a specific glass from a material flow containing multiple types of glass, comprising: an irradiation unit that irradiates the material flow with electromagnetic waves; a detection unit that detects specific electromagnetic waves generated in the material flow by an identifying element previously contained in the specific glass, thereby identifying the specific glass; and a separation unit that separates the identified specific glass from the material flow. This glass sorting device can identify and separate a specific glass that previously contains an identifying element from a material flow containing multiple types of glass by irradiating the material flow with electromagnetic waves and detecting the specific electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic waves generated in the material flow. This allows for more detailed sorting of glass from a material flow containing multiple types of glass, thereby improving recycling efficiency.

[0083] (13) The glass sorting device according to (12), wherein the identifying element is at least one of Rh, Au, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, I, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, U, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb. This glass sorting device allows specific glasses to be accurately identified and quickly sorted by the specific identifying element contained in the glass.

[0084] (14) The glass sorting device according to (12) or (13), wherein the irradiation unit irradiates the material flow with X-rays as electromagnetic waves, the target of which is at least one of Rh, Ta, Au, and Mo, and the detection unit is a semiconductor detector that detects the specific electromagnetic waves. According to this glass sorting device, the semiconductor detector can accurately identify and quickly sort specific glasses.

[0085] (15) The glass sorting device according to any one of (12) to (14), wherein the total concentration of the identifying elements contained in the specific glass is 0.01% to 2.00% expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis. With this glass sorting device, the specific glass can be accurately identified and quickly sorted by setting the total concentration of the identifying elements contained in the specific glass to 0.01% to 2.00% expressed in mole percent on an oxide basis.

[0086] (16) The specific glass has a specific gravity of 2.2 g / cm ３ ~3.0 g / cm ３ According to this glass sorting apparatus, the glass having a specific gravity of 2.2 g / cm ３ ~3.0 g / cm ３ The specific glass can be accurately identified.

[0087] (17) The glass sorting device according to any one of (12) to (16), wherein the material in the material flow has an outer diameter of 1 mm or more and 50 mm or less. With this glass sorting device, by aligning the outer diameter of the material in the material flow to 1 mm or more and 50 mm or less, it is possible to sort a specific glass accurately and quickly.

[0088] (18) The glass sorting device according to any one of (12) to (17), wherein the irradiation unit irradiates the material flow with X-rays, gamma rays, or light having a wavelength of 190 nm to 1100 nm. According to this glass sorting device, the material flow is irradiated with X-rays, gamma rays, or light having a wavelength of 190 nm to 1100 nm, thereby enabling accurate identification of a specific glass.

[0089] (19) The glass sorting device according to any one of (12) to (18), wherein an irradiation angle of the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiation unit onto the material flow is not the same as a detection angle of the electromagnetic wave generated in the material flow and guided to the detection unit. This glass sorting device can suppress the intrusion of reflected light into the detection unit and efficiently guide the electromagnetic wave generated in the material flow to the detection unit, thereby enabling the electromagnetic wave generated in the material flow to be detected at a high detection speed.

[0090] (20) The glass sorting device according to any one of (12) to (19), wherein the detection unit detects the specific electromagnetic waves by any one of fluorometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis, and pulsed fast thermal neutron activation analysis. This glass sorting device detects the specific electromagnetic waves by any one of fluorometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis, and pulsed fast thermal neutron activation analysis, and can accurately identify the specific glass.

[0091] (21) The glass sorting device according to any one of (12) to (20), wherein the separation unit separates the identified specific glass from the material flow by injecting air. According to this glass sorting device, the specific glass can be easily separated from the material flow by injecting air.

[0092] (22) A glass sorting system comprising the glass sorting device according to any one of (12) to (21), and comprising, upstream of the sorting device, at least one of: an organic matter removal device that removes organic matter from the material flow; an outer shape adjustment device that aligns materials constituting the material flow to an outer shape within a specific range; a weight adjustment device that aligns materials constituting the material flow to a specific range of specific gravity or weight; a metal removal device that removes metal from the material flow; and an opaque material removal device that removes opaque material from the material flow; and, upstream or downstream of the sorting device, a dissolving device that dissolves acid-soluble materials in the material flow with an acid solution containing at least one of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid. This glass sorting system can accurately and quickly bring the material flow into a state in which a specific glass can be sorted. This improves the accuracy of sorting the specific glass by the sorting device and also increases the recycling efficiency of glass contained in waste materials, etc.

[0093] (23) The glass sorting system according to (22), further comprising at least the outer shape adjusting device, wherein the outer shape adjusting device adjusts the outer shapes of the materials constituting the material flow to a specific range using a sieve or a mesh. According to this glass sorting system, the materials constituting the material flow can be adjusted to a size suitable for sorting by the sorting device using the sieve or mesh.

[0094] (24) The glass sorting system according to (22) or (23), comprising at least the metal removal device, wherein the metal removal device removes the metals in the material flow by magnetic force or eddy current. According to this glass sorting system, since the metals in the material flow are removed by magnetic force or eddy current, the removed metals can be recovered and used as resources.

[0095] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2023-187761) filed on November 1, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0096] 20 Detection unit 21 Irradiation section 23 Detection section 30 Separation unit (separation section) 100 Glass sorting device 200 Glass sorting system 201 Organic substance removal device 203 Outer shape adjustment device 204 Weight adjustment device 205 Metal removal device 206 Opaque substance removal device 202 Melting device Ca, Cb, Cc Cullet (glass) Ea, Eb Electromagnetic waves M Material flow

Claims

1. A method for sorting glass, comprising the steps of: irradiating the material flow with electromagnetic waves; detecting specific electromagnetic waves generated in the material flow due to an identifying element already contained in the specific glass, thereby identifying the specific glass; and separating the identified specific glass from the material flow.

2. The method for sorting glass according to claim 1, wherein the identifying element is at least one of Rh, Au, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, I, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, U, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb.

3. The method for sorting glass according to claim 2, comprising irradiating the material flow with X-rays as the electromagnetic waves, the target of which is at least one of Rh, Ta, Au and Mo used in an X-ray source, and detecting the specific electromagnetic waves generated by the identifying element with a semiconductor detector.

4. The method for sorting glass according to claim 1, wherein the total concentration of the identifying element contained in the specific glass is 0.01% to 2.00% in mole percent on an oxide basis.

5. The specific glass has a specific gravity of 2.2 g / cm ３ ~3.0g / cm ３ The method for selecting glass according to claim 1 , 6. The method for sorting glass according to claim 1, wherein the material contained in the material flow has an outer diameter of 1 mm or more and 50 mm or less.

7. The method for sorting glass according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves irradiated to the material flow are X-rays, gamma rays, or light having a wavelength of 190 nm to 1100 nm.

8. The method for sorting glass according to claim 1, wherein an irradiation angle of the electromagnetic wave irradiated to the material flow is not the same as a detection angle of the electromagnetic wave generated in the material flow.

9. The method for sorting glass according to claim 1, wherein the specific electromagnetic waves are detected by any one of the following: fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, prompt gamma neutron activation analysis, and pulsed fast thermal neutron activation analysis.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected glass is separated from the material flow by a jet of air.

11. A method for sorting glass as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising, before irradiating the substance flow with the electromagnetic waves, performing at least one of the following: removing organic matter from the substance flow; aligning the substances constituting the substance flow to have an external shape within a specific range; aligning the substances constituting the substance flow to have a specific range of specific gravity or weight; removing metals from the substance flow; and removing opaque substances from the substance flow; and before irradiating the substance flow with the electromagnetic waves or after separating the specific glass from the substance flow, dissolving acid-soluble substances in the substance flow with an acid solution containing at least one of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid.

12. A glass sorting device that sorts a specific glass from a material flow containing multiple types of glass, comprising: an irradiation unit that irradiates the material flow with electromagnetic waves; a detection unit that detects specific electromagnetic waves generated in the material flow due to an identification element that is already contained in the specific glass, and identifies the specific glass; and a separation unit that separates the identified specific glass from the material flow.

13. The glass sorting device according to claim 12, wherein the identifying element is at least one of Rh, Au, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, I, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, U, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Yb.

14. The glass sorting device according to claim 12, wherein the irradiation unit irradiates the material flow with X-rays as electromagnetic waves, the target of which is at least one of Rh, Ta, Au and Mo, used as an X-ray source, and the detection unit is a semiconductor detector that detects the specific electromagnetic waves.

15. The glass sorting device according to claim 12, wherein the total concentration of the identifying elements contained in the specific glass is 0.01% to 2.00% in mole percent on an oxide basis.

16. The specific glass has a specific gravity of 2.2 g / cm ３ ~3.0g / cm ３ The glass sorting apparatus according to claim 12, 17. The glass sorting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the material in the material stream has an outer diameter of 1 mm or more and 50 mm or less.

18. The glass sorting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the irradiation unit irradiates the material flow with X-rays, gamma rays, or light having a wavelength of 190 nm to 1100 nm.

19. The glass sorting device according to claim 12, wherein an irradiation angle of the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiation unit to the material flow is not the same as a detection angle of the electromagnetic wave generated in the material flow and guided to the detection unit.

20. The glass sorting device according to claim 12, wherein the detection unit detects the specific electromagnetic waves by any one of fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, prompt gamma neutron activation analysis, and pulsed fast thermal neutron activation analysis.

21. The glass sorting device according to claim 12, wherein the separation unit separates the identified specific glass from the material flow by injecting air.

22. A glass sorting system comprising the glass sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 21, and comprising, upstream of the sorting apparatus, at least one of: an organic matter removal device for removing organic matter from the material flow; a shape adjustment device for aligning materials constituting the material flow to a specific range of shape; a weight adjustment device for aligning materials constituting the material flow to a specific range of specific gravity or weight; a metal removal device for removing metal from the material flow; and an opaque material removal device for removing opaque material from the material flow, and further comprising, upstream or downstream of the sorting apparatus, a dissolving device for dissolving acid-soluble materials in the material flow with an acid solution containing at least one of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid.

23. The glass sorting system according to claim 22, comprising at least the profile adjustment device, the profile adjustment device adjusting the profile of the material constituting the material flow to a specific range by using a sieve or mesh.

24. The glass sorting system of claim 22, comprising at least the metal removal device, the metal removal device removing the metal in the material stream by magnetic forces or eddy currents.

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