BE1029810B1 - Method and device for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous and non-ferrous) and beverage packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous and non-ferrous) and beverage packaging, in which the mixed packaging waste is first sorted according to size into a number of size fractions and then according to density into a number of density fractions. , sorting by size into five size fractions, with the four largest size fractions further sorted by density, yielding a lower density fraction and a higher density fraction, with the metals from the four higher density fractions and smallest size fraction are sorted.

Description

tBE2021/5762

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SORTING MIXED

WASTE PACKAGING COMPRISING METAL (FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS) AND

BEVERAGE PACKAGING

TECHNICAL DOMAIN

The invention relates to a method and device for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous and non-ferrous) and beverage packaging.

STATE OF TECHNOLOGY

Packaging waste exists in many forms including plastic packaging, metal packaging and beverage cartons. The packaging waste can also still comprise remnants of the original contents of the packaging, such as for instance food residues. Different types of packaging waste are usually collected together and only afterwards offered for recycling. However, before being able to proceed with efficient recycling, such mixed packaging waste must first be sorted into the separate types of packaging waste.

For example, WO2005120729 describes a method and associated system for sorting municipal solid waste into types of materials, the method comprising the following steps: sorting the solid waste into an oversized fraction, a medium fraction and an undersized fraction; using at least manual density based, further size and metal based sorting means to obtain a partial oversized fraction, a first partial medium fraction and a second partial medium fraction; combining the partial oversize fraction and the first partial intermediate fraction to produce an oversized-medium combined fraction, and combining the undersized fraction and the second partial intermediate fraction to produce an undersized-medium combined fraction; and using further sorting means to further sort the oversized-medium combined fraction and the undersized-medium combined fraction into types of materials.

WO2005120729 shows the problem that sufficient measures are not taken to be able to sort metal waste and foil waste from municipal solid waste in an automated manner with the smallest possible need for manual post-sorting. An additional problem is that in the event of a defect in a metal separator, part of the installation must be shut down.

The present invention aims at solving at least some of the above-mentioned problems or disadvantages. The object of the invention is to provide a method which obviates these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method according to claim 1.

This method has the advantage, among other things, of sorting the metal and metal-containing waste from the mixed waste stream.

Preferred forms of the device are shown in claims 2 to 10.

A specific preferred form of the invention relates to a method according to claim 3. This namely has the advantage of attracting ferrous metal (containing more than 50% iron) by means of magnetism and separating it from the mixed packaging waste.

A specific preferred form of the invention relates to a method according to claim 7. This namely has the advantage of repelling non-ferrous metals from the mixed packaging waste without the other packaging waste reacting thereto. Provided that the ferrous metal and beverage packaging are sorted first.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device according to claim 10. This device has the advantage, among other things, of sorting the different types of metal (ferrous, non-ferrous and beverage packaging) from the mixed packaging waste. An additional advantage is that the sorting of metal takes place over several sorting lines, resulting in a faster sorting process.

Preferred forms of the method are described in dependent claims 11 to 14.

3 BE2021/5762

A specific preferred form of the invention relates to a device according to claim 12. The sorting means has the advantage of simply sending the incoming mixed packaging waste over one or more sorting lines. As a result, during a defect in a sorting line, the sorting means can combine the mixed packaging waste from that sorting line with the mixed packaging waste from another line.

This way the sorting process is not stopped and the problem or defect can be solved.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a use according to claim 15.

This use results in an advantageously improved sorting process for sorting mixed packaging waste including metal (ferrous and non-ferrous) and beverage packaging.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the invention. For a better appreciation of the description of the invention, the following terms are explicitly explained. "A", "the" and "the" in this document refer to both the singular and the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, "a segment" means one or more than one segment.

When "about" or "around" is used in this document for a measurable quantity, a parameter, a time period or moment, and the like, it means variations of +/-20% or less, preferably +/-10% or less. less, more preferably +/-5% or less, even more preferably +/-1% or less, and even more preferably +/-0.1% or less than and of the quoted value, to the extent that such variations from are applicable in the described invention. However, here you have to

4 BE2021/5762 means that the value of the quantity using the term “approximately” or “around” is itself specifically disclosed.

The terms “include”, “comprising”, “consisting of”, “consisting of”, “comprising”, “containing”, “containing”, “contain”, “containing” are synonyms and are inclusive or open terms meaning the indicate the presence of what follows, and which do not exclude or preclude the presence of other components, features, elements, members, steps, known or described in the art.

Quoting numeric intervals by the endpoints includes all integers, fractions, and/or real numbers between the endpoints, including those endpoints.

The term “packaging waste”, as used in this text, should be understood as waste from packaging, and in particular packaging made from one or more materials selected from the group of cardboard, plastic, ferrous metals and/or non-ferrous metals . Said materials are characterized by the fact that they are highly suitable for reuse. Non-limiting examples of packaging waste types are film-shaped plastic waste,

PP plastic waste, colorless or colored PET plastic waste, PE plastic waste, MPP plastic waste, non-ferrous metal waste, ferrous metal waste and beverage carton waste.

Packaging waste may possibly carry remnants of the original contents of a relevant packaging, such as food residues.

The term “mixed packaging waste”, as used in this text, should be understood as a combination of at least two different types of packaging waste.

The term “non-ferrous metal waste”, as used in this text, should be understood as waste packaging containing one or more non-ferrous metals.

Non-ferrous metals can be understood as metals that do not contain iron or in which the alloys do not have iron as a major component, all metals containing less than 50% iron being non-ferrous metals. Non-limiting examples of non-ferrous metals include aluminum, lead, copper, zinc, bronze and brass, as well as white metals, precious metals, heavy metals, light metals and non-ferrous wrought or cast alloys.

° BE2021/5762

The term “ferrous metal waste”, as used in this text, should be understood as waste packaging containing one or more ferrous metals. Ferrous metals can be understood as those materials, usually alloys, in which iron is the main component. Due to their magnetic properties, cobalt, nickel and gadolinium are also classed as ferrous metals. A non-limiting example of a ferrous metal is steel.

The term “beverage packaging”, as used in this text, should be understood as waste from beverage cartons, which beverage cartons were originally designed to contain a beverage and are preferably made of cardboard, polyethylene and a fine layer of aluminium.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous and non-ferrous) and beverage packaging.

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the mixed packaging waste is first sorted by size into a number of size fractions and then sorted by density into a number of density fractions. Sorting by size is done in five size fractions, with the four largest size fractions further sorted by density. When further sorting on density, a lower density fraction and a higher density fraction are obtained. The metals are further sorted from the four higher density fractions and smallest size fraction.

According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the five size fractions comprise a first size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions less than 40 mm; a second size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions of 40 mm to 140 mm; a third size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions of 140 mm to 220 mm; a fourth size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions of 220 mm to 300 mm; and a fifth size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions greater than 300 mm.

Dividing the mixed packaging waste into five size fractions has the advantage of opening up the incoming mixed packaging waste further into several waste streams with a certain size interval. This is possible for each

© BE2021/5762 size fraction, a specific sorting process can be adjusted, which raises the quality of the relevant sorting processes.

By dividing the mixed packaging waste into higher and lower density fractions after dividing it into size fractions, waste such as films can be separated at an early stage. However, this has the advantage of protecting the sorting process in subsequent steps from blocking and even crashing. Waste such as foils can easily get stuck here and slow down or block the sorting process.

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the ferrous metal is sorted from the mixed packaging waste by means of a magnetic separator. Because the ferrous metal consists for the most part of iron, ferrous metal can be attracted by means of a magnet.

The use of a magnetic tape has the advantage of separating the ferrous metal from the mixed packaging waste.

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the sorted ferrous metal is sorted a second time, resulting in a ferrous metal fraction and a residual fraction.

After sorting the ferrous metal, it is possible that other unwanted packaging waste is present in the sorted ferrous metal. This is possible because during the magnetic attraction of the ferrous metal, other packaging waste was present between the magnetic tape and the ferrous metal. Sorting the ferrous metal a second time thus has the advantage of separating the incorrectly sorted waste from the sorted ferrous metal. This has the additional advantage that the degree of purity of the ferrous metal fraction is increased.

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the beverage packagings are sorted from the mixed packaging waste by means of an optical beverage packaging separator.

Using an optical separator has the advantage of easily sorting beverage packaging from the mixed packaging waste. Because beverage packaging mainly consists of cardboard with a thin layer of aluminum on the inside, an optical separator can easily sort beverage packaging.

7 BE2021/5762

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the sorted beverage packages are sorted by means of an additional optical separator. The additional optical separator separates impurities from the sorted beverage packaging. During the sorting of the beverage packaging, unwanted other packaging waste can be sorted with it, but mainly food residues, namely impurities.

The additional optical separator here has the advantage of still sorting the impurities from the sorted beverage packaging. This has the additional advantage of increasing the degree of purity of the sorted beverage packaging.

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the non-ferrous metals are sorted from the mixed packaging waste by means of an eddy current separator. Because non-ferrous metals contain no or only a small percentage of iron, they cannot be sorted by means of a magnetic tape.

An eddy current separator has the advantage of separating the non-ferrous metals from the mixed packaging waste by generating eddy currents in the non-ferrous metals.

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the sorted non-ferrous metals are sorted by means of an additional optical separator.

The additional optical separator separates impurities from the sorted non-ferrous metals. The additional optical separator has the advantage of still removing the impurities from the sorted non-ferrous metals. This has the additional advantage of obtaining a higher degree of purity of the sorted non-ferrous metals.

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the remaining mixed packaging waste is further sorted into a two-dimensional fraction and a three-dimensional fraction. The two-dimensional fraction mainly comprises foil, whereby the remaining mixed packaging waste is once again checked for foils.

Ballistic separators are primarily used to recover materials of similar density but substantially different dimensional properties (other than size). For example, hard

6 BE2021/5762 plastics (which are usually three-dimensional) are separated from the foils, which are generally two-dimensional.

In a further embodiment of the first aspect, the two-dimensional fraction comprises at least 70% by weight, more preferably 75% by weight, even more preferably at least 80% by weight, even more preferably at least 85% by weight, even more preferably at least 90% by weight, and most preferably at least 95 weight percent of films relative to the total weight of the two-dimensional fraction.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous and non-ferrous) and beverage packaging.

According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect, the device comprises one or more drum screens, suitable for sorting the mixed packaging waste into several size fractions; one or more wind classifiers, suitable for sorting the mixed packaging waste into several higher and lower density fractions. The device further comprises one or more magnetic tape separators, optical separators and eddy current separators, suitable for the respective sorting of ferrous metals, beverage packaging and non-ferrous metals from the mixed packaging waste. The relevant separators are arranged successively in one or more sorting lines.

The advantage of using a drum screen is that a drum screen offers a simple and reliable solution for sorting mixed packaging waste into different size fractions. Drum screens are also capable of easily processing large volumes of material.

Air sifters separate the mixed packaging waste via an air stream, whereby the mixed packaging waste can be subdivided into different density fractions through this air stream. The advantage of this is that no water is used. In addition, the separation percentage via an air stream is at least 95% with low energy consumption. Furthermore, a wind classifier requires little maintenance.

The use of magnetic tapes have a stationary magnetic field so that ferrous metals are easily attracted to the magnetic tape and stick. As a result, the respective ferrous metals remain on the magnetic tape

9 BE2021/5762 are attracted as long as the stationary magnetic field is present, so that they are separated from the mixed packaging waste.

Optical separators use near-infrared light to detect different types of material based on the surface properties of the material. The properties of the material can be determined by measuring the amount of reflected near-infrared light. This makes it easy to separate beverage packaging, which mainly consists of cardboard, from the mixed packaging waste.

Eddy current separators use an alternating magnetic field, which in turn generates eddy currents in the non-ferrous metals. These eddy currents in the non-ferrous metals in turn generate a secondary magnetic field, as a result of which the non-ferrous metals are repelled from the eddy current separator and thereby separated from the mixed packaging waste.

The separators mentioned above are arranged successively in one or more sorting lines. Here, the multiple lines are copies of each other, each of which is individually capable of sorting ferrous metal, beverage packaging and non-ferrous metal from the mixed packaging waste. The advantage of using multiple sorting lines is that more packaging waste can be processed at the same time.

According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect, the device further comprises a plurality of ballistic separators, suitable for sorting the mixed packaging waste into a two-dimensional and three-dimensional fraction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect, the device further comprises a distribution element, coupled to the sorting lines, suitable for directing the mixed packaging waste over one or more sorting lines.

The distribution element is coupled to the inputs of the sorting lines, whereby the sorting element can send the incoming mixed packaging waste over several sorting lines or can combine and send all the incoming mixed packaging waste over a single sorting line.

The use of a distribution element with several sorting lines has the advantage that, in the event of a breakdown of one sorting line, the packaging waste can simply be sent over another sorting line (at a lower throughput speed). This results in a redundant system.

According to a further embodiment of the second aspect, the optical separators comprise positively connected optical separators, suitable for distinguishing different types of packaging waste.

According to a further embodiment of the second aspect, the optical separators comprise negatively switched optical separators suitable for distinguishing impurities from sorted waste.

For the technical effects and advantages and/or of the characteristics of the device according to the second aspect of the invention, reference is made to the embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of the invention described above. Corresponding features are described herein which are also applicable to the device according to the second aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to the use of the method according to the first aspect or the device according to the second aspect for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous, non-ferrous) and beverage packaging.

In what follows, the invention is described by means of. non-limiting figures which illustrate the invention, and which are not intended or construed to limit the scope of the invention.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to figures which are not limiting.

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

For advantages and technical effects of elements described herein in the figures, reference is made to the advantages and technical effects of corresponding elements described above in the detailed description.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention.

In a first step, the incoming mixed packaging waste is subdivided into five size fractions by means of drum screens (2, 3 and 4). The drum sieve distributes here

N BE2021/5762 (2) the mixed packaging waste in a first size fraction with dimensions >300 mm and a second size fraction with dimensions of 220 - 300 mm. Drum screen (3) divides the mixed packaging waste into a third size fraction with dimensions of 140 - 220 mm. Drum screen (4) divides the packaging waste into a fourth size fraction with dimensions 40 — 140 mm and a fifth size fraction with dimensions <40 mm.

In a second step, the five size fractions are each separately divided into a lower density fraction and a higher density fraction by a respective air classifier (5, 6, 7 and 8). The lower density fractions are then further sorted into different types of films (not shown in the figure). The higher density fraction of the first size fraction is further sorted in sorting chamber (26). The higher density fractions of the second, third and fourth size fractions are then fed to a sorting means of sorting lines (27 and 28). According to Figure 1, the higher density fractions of the second and third size fraction are sent by the distribution means to sorting line (28). The higher density fraction of the fourth size fraction is sent by the sorting means to sorting line (27). In addition, the distribution means has the option of combining the various higher-density fractions and sending them over one sorting line.

In a third step, the aforementioned higher density fractions are sorted according to different types of metal. The sorting lines (27 and 28) herein each time have the same arrangement, with the outputs of the separators on the sorting lines (27 and 28) being coupled to each other. The higher density fractions mainly consist of mixed packaging waste.

The mixed packaging waste is sorted by magnetic separators (9 and 10) according to ferrous metal. The ferrous metal fraction is then checked again for ferrous metal by an additional magnetic separator (29). The ferrous metal fraction is further optionally checked manually in sorting chamber (26). Finally, the ferrous metal fraction is stored in storage (22).

After separating the ferrous metal from the mixed packaging waste, optical separators (11 and 12) sort beverage packaging from the mixed packaging waste.

The beverage packagings are then cleaned by an additional negatively switched optical separator (30), whereby the relevant optical separator (30)

12 BE2021/5762 remove impurities from the mixed plastic packaging waste. The impurities are in turn fed back with the start of the sorting process, more precisely the impurities are added to drum screen (3). The beverage packagings are checked again in sorting room (26) and further sorted if necessary. Finally, the beverage packs are stored in storage location (23).

After beverage packaging has been sorted from the mixed plastic packaging waste, the non-ferrous metals are sorted using eddy current separators (13 and 14).

The non-ferrous metal fraction is further cleaned up by an additional negative-switched optical separator (17). The relevant optical separator (17) checks the ferrous metal fraction for impurities, which are added to drum screen (3) just as described above. If necessary, the ferrous metal fraction is manually checked one last time in the sorting room (26).

Finally, the ferrous metal fraction is stored in storage (24).

After separating the metal and beverage packaging, the remaining mixed plastic packaging waste is finally subdivided into a two-dimensional fraction and a three-dimensional fraction by means of a ballistic separator (15 and 16). To obtain a better efficiency, each sorting line (27 and 28) is provided with two ballistic separators (15 and 16) placed one above the other. The two-dimensional fraction mainly contains foils, paper and light trays, whereby the relevant two-dimensional fraction is further sorted (not shown in the figure). The three-dimensional is finally further sorted into different types of plastic (not shown in the figure).

The fifth size fraction is further sorted by a magnet separator (19), the magnet separator (19) separating ferrous metal from the fifth size fraction.

The relevant ferrous metal fraction is then stored in storage location (22). Subsequently, if required, the fifth size fraction is sorted by means of an eddy current separator (20) for non-ferrous metal. The non-ferrous metal fraction is combined with the non-ferrous metal fraction before the additional negative-switched optical separator (17). Everything that remains after this becomes again

13 BE2021/5762 manually checked in sorting room (26) and further sorted if necessary, after which the unsorted material is stored in storage area (25).

All the material that is ultimately separated from the sorted fractions in the sorting chamber (26) is fed back to the drum screen (3). This gives the relevant material a second chance to be sorted into the correct fraction.

Claims (15)

16 BE2021/5762 CONCLUSIONS 1. Method for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous and non-ferrous) and beverage packaging, wherein the mixed packaging waste is first sorted according to size into a number of size fractions and then according to density into a number of density fractions, whereby according to size sorted into five size fractions, whereby the four largest size fractions are further sorted by density, whereby a lower density fraction and a higher density fraction are obtained, characterized in that the metals from the four higher density fractions and smallest size fraction are sorted, whereby different higher density fractions are combined after density sorting and before sorting out the metals. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the five size fractions comprise a first size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions smaller than 40 mm, a second size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions of 40 mm to 140 mm, a third size fraction includes mixed packaging waste with dimensions from 140 mm to 220 mm, a fourth size fraction includes mixed packaging waste with dimensions from 220 mm to 300 mm, and a fifth size fraction includes mixed packaging waste with dimensions greater than 300 mm. Method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the ferrous metal is sorted from the mixed packaging waste by means of a magnetic separator. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that the sorted ferrous metal is sorted a second time, resulting in a ferrous metal fraction and a residual fraction. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the beverage packagings are sorted from the mixed packaging waste by means of an optical beverage packaging separator. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the sorted beverage packagings are sorted by means of an additional optical separator. 1 BE2021/5762, whereby the additional optical separator separates impurities from the sorted beverage packaging. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that the non-ferrous metals are sorted from the mixed packaging waste by means of an eddy current separator. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the sorted non-ferrous metals are sorted by means of an additional optical separator, the additional optical separator separating impurities from the sorted non-ferrous metals. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-8, characterized in that the remaining mixed packaging waste is further sorted into a two-dimensional fraction and a three-dimensional fraction. 10. Device for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous, non-ferrous) and beverage packaging; comprising one or more drum screens, suitable for sorting the mixed packaging waste into several size fractions; one or more wind classifiers, suitable for sorting the mixed packaging waste into several higher and lower density fractions, the device further comprising one or more magnetic tape separators, optical separators and eddy current separators, suitable for the respective sorting of ferrous metals, beverage packaging and non ferrous metals from the mixed packaging waste, the separators concerned being successively arranged in one or more sorting lines, characterized in that the device comprises a first drum screen, the first drum screen being suitable for separating a fifth size fraction of mixed packaging waste comprising dimensions larger than 300 mm and a fourth size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions from 220 mm to 300 mm, where the first drum screen is immediately followed by a second drum screen, where the second drum screen is suitable for separating a third size fraction mixed packaging waste with dimensions of 140 mm to 220 mm from a residual fraction from the first drum screen, where the second drum screen is immediately followed by a third drum screen, where the third drum screen is suitable for separating a second size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions of 40 mm to 140 mm and a first size fraction of mixed packaging waste with dimensions smaller than 40 mm from a residual fraction from the second drum sieve, the device further comprising a first air classifier for separating into density the fifth size fraction, a second air classifier for separating into density from the fourth size fraction, a third air classifier for separating in density of the third size fraction and a fourth air classifier for separating in density from the second size fraction, the first, second, third and fourth air classifier following immediately after the drum screens. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a plurality of ballistic separators, suitable for sorting the mixed packaging waste into a two-dimensional and three-dimensional fraction. 12. Device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the device further comprises a distribution element, coupled to the sorting lines, suitable for sending the mixed packaging waste over one or more sorting lines. 13. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 10-12, characterized in that optical separators comprise positively connected optical separators, suitable for distinguishing different types of packaging waste. 14. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 10-13, characterized in that the optical separators comprise negatively switched optical separators, suitable for distinguishing impurities from sorted waste. Use of the method according to any of claims 1-9 or the device according to any of claims 10-14 for sorting mixed packaging waste comprising metal (ferrous, non-ferrous) and beverage packaging.