NIR Optical Sorting

Near infra-red/NIR Optical Sorting systems use advanced infra-red sensors to effectively identify materials/feedstock of different wavelengths. The targeted materials are then ejected via a compressed air valve to achieve the purpose of sorting. The first NIR sorting systems were used to process recyclable materials at the beginning of the 1990s and the technology has developed significantly in the past five years. These systems are frequently used in MRFs to streamline the sorting process, reduce labour costs, and increase the throughput to make recycling operations more efficient. NIR Optical Sorting systems are capable of processing packaging, papers, waste electrical equipment, residual waste (RDF), plastics and vehicle recycling.

The Principle

The basic principle behind the NIR technology is measuring the wavelength of the light that bounces off an object. The conveyor in a MRF moves the material under a bright light which fires near infra-red wavelengths of light at the recyclables. Some of the wavelengths are absorbed while others are reflected by the material. The NIR sensors that are positioned in the last third of the conveyor record the characteristics of the wavelengths bounced back from the material. From there they are able to determine and target the different types of recyclables on the belt and eject the selected material from the end of the conveyor via a jet of compressed air.

The Process

The waste material is loaded onto an accelerator/fast speed conveyor to thin the recyclables out The conveyor moves the material under a bright light which fires infra-red wavelengths of light towards it A series of NIR sensors that are pointed at the conveyor record the distinct light signature/fingerprint that bounces back from the recyclables to identify what each piece of material is A computer calculates the desired recyclable’s location and sends a blast of compressed air at the correct timing via a nozzle located at the end of the conveyor, normally under the material The specific recyclable material is detected and ejected by the compressed air - it is blown over a 'material splitter' to separate it from the remaining flow of waste Most of the sorting systems include a quality control step at the end to ensure the purity of the material being sorted Materials may be sorted via a series of NIR units, each focused on a different material

[[ NIR Optical Sorter Diagram. All rights reserved. NIR Optical Sorter

Near Infra-Red/NIR Optical Sorting in the Plastics Recycling Process

NIR sorting is widely used to separate plastic by NIR Optical Sorting via transmission or reflection, sometimes in a dedicated Plastics Recovery Facility. Automatic sorters interface NIR sensing with air nozzles to sort plastic items of various resin compounds/plastic polymer types. The sensors are positioned above the high-speed conveyor and detect the unique wavelength signature of the desired polymers which subsequently get directed by air jets to their specific waste streams. Contaminants become the waste output or are directed for further processing.