Optoelectronic Sorting of Plastic Particles for Cadmium Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current recycling processes for synthetic organic materials fail to effectively eliminate colored particles, particularly those colored by cadmium compounds, which are present in small quantities and disrupt the homogeneity of recycled flows, leading to unsuitable granules for industrial applications due to color inhomogeneity.
Innovation Solution
A continuous optoelectronic treatment process that transforms bulk flows of synthetic organic materials into a single-layer curtain of particles, using optoelectronic means to detect and eliminate colored particles in real-time, ensuring the content of cadmium compounds is reduced below the regulatory limit of 100 ppm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional recycling processes are used to separate and sort used synthetic organic materials, then homogeneous flows by chemical composition can be obtained, but colored particles containing cadmium compounds cannot be effectively eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical sorting methods with an optoelectronic detection system that uses light to identify and detect colored particles containing cadmium compounds. This optical approach enables precise identification of problematic particles that mechanical methods cannot distinguish, allowing for their selective elimination while maintaining chemical composition homogeneity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention specifically targets particles with abnormal color characteristics as indicators of cadmium compound contamination. By detecting color variations and chromatic properties, the system identifies particles that deviate from the expected color profile, enabling selective removal of colored particles while preserving the overall homogeneity of the recycled material flow.
2Manufacturing precision
If optoelectronic detection means are added to detect colored particles, then color homogeneity can be improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of color detection from a complex optoelectronic system. By using targeted optical filters and specific wavelength detection, the system focuses solely on identifying color deviations indicative of cadmium compounds, rather than performing comprehensive material analysis. This extraction approach maintains high detection precision while minimizing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the detection parameter from comprehensive material characterization to specific colorimetric measurement. By monitoring only chromatic coordinates and color intensity at specific wavelengths, the system achieves effective detection of colored particles with simplified optical components and processing requirements, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If continuous optoelectronic treatment is implemented to eliminate colored particles, then color homogeneity and cadmium content can be reduced below 100 ppm, but processing time and productivity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous optoelectronic treatment process where detection and elimination of colored particles occur continuously throughout the material flow, rather than in discrete batch operations. The optoelectronic detection system operates continuously along the conveyor, identifying and removing problematic particles in real-time, thereby maintaining high processing speed while achieving consistent color homogeneity and reducing cadmium content below 100 ppm.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary detection and elimination of colored particles early in the recycling process, before the materials undergo further processing such as melting and granulation. By removing problematic particles at this early stage, the system prevents color contamination from propagating through subsequent processing steps, ensuring final product homogeneity without requiring additional processing time or reducing overall productivity.
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
The process achieves significant reduction of cadmium content in recycled synthetic organic materials, ensuring the final product is homogeneous in composition and color, making it suitable for industrial applications by eliminating colored particles, thereby lowering cadmium content to less than 20 mass ppm.
Implementation Method 1
The invention relates to a process for the continuous optoelectronic treatment of flows of used synthetic organic materials... which consists in sorting and to eliminate from these homogeneous flows, in continuous movement, colored particles in their mass
Implementation Method 2
transformation... into an organized flow in the form of a single-layer curtain of particles separated the from each other, flowing in free fall... passage of the flow in the form of a monolayer curtain of particles flowing in free fall, in an area provided with observation and recording means optoelectronics
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the continuous optoelectronic treatment of flows of used organic synthesis materials, recyclable in the field of plastic processing, in a fragmented form of particles rendered almost homogeneous in the composition thereof but heterogeneous in colour. According to said method, coloured particles in the mass thereof of said materials, especially those coloured by cadmium compounds, are sorted and eliminated from said homogeneous flows, in continuous movement. The method is characterised in that it comprises the transformation of a flow of bulk particles into a monolayer flow, the free-falling movement of said monolayer flow forming a curtain between at least two cameras that determine the temporal and spatial coordinates of each coloured particle and the real-time transmission thereof, by software and algorithms, to means for eliminating said coloured particles.