Chemical Product Passport With Decentralized Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chemical data exchange systems, such as the International Material Data System (IMDS), are static, prone to errors, and cumbersome, making data sharing and exchange laborious across the chemical supply chain.

Innovation Solution

A decentralized apparatus and method for generating a chemical product passport using a decentral identifier and associated recyclate or bio-based content data, enabling secure and customizable data sharing and exchange under the control of the data owner, with authentication and authorization mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual sampling and testing methods are used to determine recyclate content and bio-based content, then measurement precision can be maintained, but loss of time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecyclate content measurement precisionVSAvoidtime for manual sampling and testing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical sampling and laboratory testing with automated near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy systems. The NIR device automatically captures spectral data from the plastic material, and processing units algorithmically determine recyclate and bio-based content without manual intervention, thereby maintaining measurement precision while dramatically reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a spectral copy of the plastic material's optical properties using NIR spectroscopy. Instead of physically sampling and chemically analyzing the material, the system captures a spectral fingerprint that contains all necessary information about recyclate and bio-based content, enabling rapid non-contact measurement with high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Loss of information

If comprehensive data on recyclate content and bio-based content is collected and stored, then information completeness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of recyclate and bio-based content dataVSAvoidcomplexity of data collection and storage system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a multi-functional integrated system where a single NIR spectroscopy device performs multiple functions: capturing spectral data, identifying plastic types, determining recyclate content, calculating bio-based content, and storing comprehensive results. This universal approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into one device, reducing overall complexity while maintaining complete data collection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a centralized database and processing unit as an intermediary between the NIR sensor and various applications. This intermediary layer standardizes data collection, storage, and retrieval processes, managing the complexity of comprehensive data handling while providing simplified access to all stakeholders including producers, recyclers, and consumers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If chemical analysis methods are used to determine bio-based content, then measurement precision improves, but loss of substance increases due to sample consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebio-based content measurement precisionVSAvoidsample material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces destructive chemical analysis methods with non-contact near-infrared spectroscopy. The NIR system measures the optical properties of the plastic material to determine bio-based content without consuming or altering the sample, thereby maintaining measurement precision while eliminating substance loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an optical copy of the material's molecular structure characteristics through NIR spectroscopy. The spectral data captures information about chemical bonds and molecular vibrations that indicate bio-based content, providing accurate measurement without physical consumption of the sampled material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates efficient, reliable, and secure data sharing across the chemical supply chain, allowing data owners to control access and ensure data integrity, thereby simplifying and customizing data exchange for various participants.

Implementation Method 1

determining a recyclate content and/or a bio-based content of the plastic material or of a component based on near-infrared spectral reflections of the plastic material or of the component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNear-infrared reflection spectroscopy: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4454211B1Chemical product passport for recyclate content data and/or bio-based content data
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 BASF SE
  • EP4454211B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4454211B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4454211B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

Disclosed is an apparatus for generating a chemical product passport, the apparatus comprising: one or more computing nodes; and one or more computer-readable media having thereon computer-executable instructions that are structured such that, when executed by the one or more computing nodes, cause the apparatus to perform the following steps: receiving a request to provide a decentral identifier associated with recyclate content data and/or bio-based content data and a data owner, in response to the request, generating the chemical product passport including the decentral identifier and data related to the recyclate content data and/or bio-based content data; providing the chemical product passport for access by a data consuming service controlled by a data providing service associated with the data owner.