Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
  • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
  • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
  • G01N21/35—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
  • G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
  • G01J3/28—Investigating the spectrum
  • G01J3/30—Measuring the intensity of spectral lines directly on the spectrum itself
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
  • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
  • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
  • G01N21/35—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light
  • G01N21/3563—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
  • G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
  • G01J3/02—Details
  • G01J3/0205—Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
  • G01J3/0229—Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N2201/00—Features of devices classified in G01N21/00
  • G01N2201/02—Mechanical
  • G01N2201/022—Casings
  • G01N2201/0221—Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N2201/00—Features of devices classified in G01N21/00
  • G01N2201/12—Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
  • G01N2201/129—Using chemometrical methods

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying post consumer or post industrial waste carpet using an infrared (IR) spectrometer, and more particularly to a method of identifying post consumer or post industrial waste carpet using a hand-held IR spectrometer having an IR radiation source which illuminates the post consumer or post industrial waste carpet with IR radiation, a selector for selecting a predetermined number of discrete wavelengths of radiation and an IR detection system for detecting radiation reflected by the post consumer or post industrial waste carpet.
• the invention also relates to a method and apparatus for identifying Polyamide-6 and/or Polyamide-66 containing material using a hand-held IR-spectrometer enabling sorting of the Polyamides.
• post consumer waste carpet which is used by applicants as a generic term encompassing both post consumer waste carpet, post industrial waste carpet and Polyamide-6 and/or Polyamide-66 containing waste streams.
• carpets employ face fibers produced from materials such as Polyamide-6, Polyamide- 66, Polypropylene, Wool, Polyester and blends of these component products. For a recycling program to be successful, it must be easy to accurately identify the type of face fiber used by the carpet.
• a third way to identify the type of face material used on a particular waste carpet sample is to use a spectroscope. It is well known that various materials can be identified using vibrational spectroscopic techniques like mid-infrared and near infrared spectroscopy. In particular, near infrared spectroscopy is a well known method, e.g. for the sorting of bottles. IR spectroscopy can be conducted on transparent materials by analyzing radiation passing through the materials, and on substances which are opaque to IR radiation by analyzing the diffuse radiation reflected by the material. To conform with the customary usage in optics, this application will sometimes refer to IR radiation as "light".
• IR spectrometers for both the near-infrared range (800-2500 nm) and the mid-infrared range (2500- 25000 nm) , are often used to identify and quantify materials on the basis of the material characteristics which cause them to absorb or reflect particular wavelengths. In many cases, these characteristic frequencies are only slightly different for different materials. It is therefore important to use a high spectral resolution spectrometer, especially when attempting to distinguish various materials mixed together.
• An IR spectrometer generally includes a source which emits radiation in the desired wavelength range and auxiliary optics such as lenses and mirrors to form the radiation into a beam of suitable shape and dimensions and to guide it along a light path.
• auxiliary optics such as lenses and mirrors to form the radiation into a beam of suitable shape and dimensions and to guide it along a light path.
• all elements that make up the spectrometer are accommodated in an enclosure which preferably is sealed to prevent dust from interfering with the components.
• the light source is preferably placed in a reflector casing so that the spectrometer can obtain as much light as possible.
• the light source is preferably incorporated in the optical casing, so that light egresses from the spectrometer via an optically transparent window to impinge on the target material.
• the transparent window may be, for instance, glass or high-quality quartz or may be made of for instance KBr, KCI, ZnSe, KRS S , CaF 2 or MgF 2 for the mid-in
• the beam is directed at a site on the material to be examined.
• the reflected radiation is then collected, formed to have a desired beam geometry and eventually directed onto a detection system.
• This detection system normally includes a detector capable of measuring the intensity of the incident radiation.
• detectors which may be used in the near- infrared range include PbS and InGaAs detectors, and detectors which may be used in the mid-infrared range include detectors made from deuterized triglycinesulphate (DTGS).
• IR spectrometers There are several basic types of IR spectrometers. Two types of IR spectrometers are discussed below. In the first type, discrete wavelengths are selected by passing reflected radiation through different filters that are only transparent to a particular wavelength range. In the second type, a beam of reflected IR radiation is dispersed and allowed to impinge on a diode array. Unfortunately, diode arrays of this nature and having the desired resolving power are very expensive, and selection of the desired wavelength from the absorbed spectrum must take place in a later phase in the downstream processing equipment, thus increasing the amount of support electronics necessary to utilize the spectrometer. The relationship between the intensity and the wavelength of the reflected or transmitted light from a particular material is called the spectrum.
• the detector is linked to a processing system which converts the detector signals into a spectral form accessible to the user or a computer such as a curve or numerical values.
• the mid- and near-infrared spectra of various types of fibers used in carpets differ significantly.
• the spectra of polyamide-6 and polyamide-66 differ only slightly: the mid-infrared spectrum is completely identical and the near infrared spectra is only slightly different in the 2000-2500 nm spectral range.
• MD Mahalonobis-distance
• One object of the invention is to provide a method of reliably analyzing post consumer carpet waste using a hand-held IR spectrometer.
• the invention utilizes a hand-held spectrometer which is capable of measuring at a number of discrete wavelengths with sufficient resolution.
• the first hand-held spectrometer is capable of measuring a number of discrete wavelengths with good resolution by utilizing a radiation selector which disperses the radiation and selects discrete wavelengths from the dispersed radiation using a plate provided with openings at locations corresponding to the positions of the discrete wavelengths in the dispersed radiation to be selected.
• the second hand-held spectrometer is also capable of measuring a number of discrete wavelengths, but utilizes filters which pass particular selected wavelengths optimal for use in the carpet recycling business.
• the spectra in the near- infrared range or the mid-infrared range of a series of samples are recorded using a high-resolution spectrometer. These high-resolution spectra are used to determine the combination of absorptions at different wavelengths which yield sufficient information for discriminating one polymer from another.
• carpet recycling for instance, one might wish to know if a carpet is made of Polypropylene, Polyamide-6, Polyamide-66 or Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET).
• Absorption of the detector should be checked against a reference material of a known substance.
• Suitable reference materials for diffuse reflection in the near-infrared range include, for example, small ceramic plates and small teflon plates.
• a ⁇ is the absorption at wavelength ⁇
• I ⁇ is the light intensity at wavelength ⁇ .
• An analysis is obtained on the basis of the absorption at different wavelengths using standard mathematical methods. The analyses may be used for identifying and/or quantifying samples with the aid of chemometric methods.
• Chemometric methods for identification are described, for example, in Ghosh et al, Melliand Textilberichte 5 (1988) 361.
• the values of, for example, A( ⁇ 2)-A( ⁇ l) and A( ⁇ 3)-A( ⁇ 2) are alculated, where A ⁇ is the absorption at the wavelengths specified.
• a ⁇ is the absorption at the wavelengths specified.
• Optimum separation is accomplished by selecting the combination of, for instance, 3 wavelengths at which the Mahalanobis' distances between the 3 clusters (4 different Mahalanobis' distances) are maximum.
• a combination of the absorptions at 2432, 2452 and 2478 appears to be optimum.
• the optimization conditions can be defined in any desired way. For example, the optimization conditions could be set to maximize the MD of Polyamide-6 and Polyamide-66, maximize the minimum of the MD's of Polyamide-6 to the other types of materials, maximize all the MD's, etc.
• the first type of IR spectrometer of this invention has been demonstrated to be capable of selecting narrower wavelength ranges than known spectrometers by dispersing incoming radiation.
• Dispersion in this context, means the spatial distribution of the different wavelengths which occur in a beam of radiation.
• One well known device useful to cause dispersion of an incoming beam of radiation is a grating.
• a grating is preferably stationary and has between 100-4000 lines/mm. The reflected or transmitted light converges, with or without the aid of a system of lenses, so that it enters the grating through an inlet aperture measuring between 100 and 1000 ⁇ m.
• a point in the plane perpendicular to the direction of radiation corresponds with a particular wavelength. This being so, a given, desired wavelength, can be selected from the spectrum by transmitting or collecting a portion of the spectrum radiation which passes through the corresponding location.
• the grating may be placed in the optical system such that the beam is reflected by the post consumer waste material.
• the reflected radiation may be collected, for example, in a number of suitably positioned detectors.
• a problem here is the minimum dimension of the available detectors, which enables adjacent wavelengths to be observed by the detector as well as the desired wavelength.
• this problem is resolved by selecting a discrete wavelength with a plate that is opaque to IR radiation, positioned between the source and the detection system, so that no radiation can reach the detection system other than through openings in the plate.
• the plate is provided with openings at locations corresponding to the positions of the discrete wavelengths in the dispersed radiation to be selected.
• the openings in the plate may be made very small, in any case substantially smaller than minimum dimensions of available detectors.
• the openings in the plate may also be positioned with very high accuracy. In this way it is possible to accurately select the desired wavelengths from the dispersed beam of radiation with high resolution.
• the intensities of the different wavelengths may be measured individually by placing a detector behind each opening in the plate or by using a plate and detector which are moveable relative to each other so that the detector can be serially placed behind each opening in the plate.
• problems associated with a finite detector dimension do not arise because the location and size of the openings independently determine the wavelength selection and resolution of the spectrometer.
• Another possibility, which affords greater design flexibility, is to connect a light conductor to each of the openings in the plate and to convey the radiation to the detection system through these conductors.
• separate detectors may again be used, or the individual light conductors may also be connected to, for instance, a rotary system or a slide system, whereby the individual conductors may be individually disposed in front of a single detector.
• the detector may be moveable so that it can be placed in front of various stationary light conductors.
• Motion of the detector or of the sliding or rotary system is preferably controlled by a computer system which also is capable of processing the measurement results.
• the results can, for instance, be presented on-line on a display. In this way, in a separation system for material flow, an operator can intervene on the basis of the value shown.
• the computer can be connected to and control a downstream mechanical system.
• the measurement results may also be used for controlling a production process.
• the grating may be placed in the optical system before the radiation beam impinges on the test material.
• dispersed light is passed through a plate with slots and thus selected li t with the desired wavelengths is passed via light con ⁇ ctors onto the material.
• the amount of reflected light is then measured to obtain light which may be analyzed to determine the type of mate ial.
• each opening of the plate allows light of a desired wavelengths to pass.
• the passed light is transmitted by a light conductor, having one end positioned adjacent the slot in the plate and the other end positioned so that the exiting radiation can be aimed at the material.
• Aiming the exiting radiation can be accomplished, for example, by terminating the ends of the light conductors in a rotary system which, when rotating, allows a particular light conductor to irradiate the material while optically isolating the other conductors from the material.
• the rotary system By causing the rotary system to successively assume a number of different positions, for example, by using a stepping motor, the material can successively be irradiated with different wavelengths and the intensity of the wavelengths can be individually measured.
• a system of lenses may be optionally provided to ensure that the material to be examined is adequately illuminated.
• Suitable light conductors for use in this system are optical fibers which are transparent to the infrared range between 1000-2000 nm.
• Quality glass fibers with a low SiOH content are suitable for the infrared range between 2000-2500 nm.
• Chalcogenide or Ag-halide fibers are suitable for the mid-infrared range.
• Other optical fibers that are transparent in the desired wavelength ranges may also be used.
• the diameter of these fibers is preferably between 100 and 1000 ⁇ m.
• the positions of the openings are calculated from the desired wavelengths, the geometry of the spectrometer and the characteristics of the grating. The desired wavelengths depend on the materials to be detected and separated which determine the location of the holes in the plate. The positions of the holes can be determined using cluster analysis, as described above .
• the second type of IR spectrometer of this invention uses a combination of filters placed on a filter wheel which is driven at a high speed (10-200 Hz).
• the sample is illuminated using a set of lamps and diffuse reflected light is collected using a lens.
• the light is then directed through the filter wheel and detected using a PbS or InGaAs detector.
• a filter wheel has several unique advantages. For example, since the filter wheel blocks the light beam four times during each rotation, the dark current of the detector may be frequently sampled and used to correct for temperature drift and other fluctuations of the detector.
• the collection angle for this system should be kept small, preferably less than 5°, to keep the spectral resolution of the filter below 20 nm.
• the detector signals are processed using an on-board microprocessor.
• the filters can be used to select predetermined wavelengths from a source of infrared radiation before the radiation impinges on the sample of post consumer waste carpet.
• a filter wheel is rotated to allow infrared radiation having a predetermined wavelength range to exit of the spectrometer. The emitted light is reflected by the sample of post consumer waste carpet, and then detected by the detector.
• AOTF acoustic optical tunable filters
• AOTF devices are crystals which receive a light beam and transmit selected wavelengths of the incident light beam based on a frequency of an acoustical input signal.
• wavelengths could be selected by adjusting a frequency of ultrasound applied to the AOTF device, thus eliminating moving parts associated with a filter wheel.
• Figure 1 is a side view of a hand-held spectrometer according to a first embodiment of this invention
• Figure 2 is a side view of a hand-held spectrometer according to a second embodiment of this invention
• Figure 3 is a side view of a hand-held spectrometer according to a third embodiment of this invention.
• Figure 4 is a side view of a hand-held spectrometer according to a fourth embodiment of this invention.
• Figure 5 is a side view of a hand-held spectrometer according to a fifth embodiment of this invention.
• Figure 6 is a filter wheel for use with the hand-held spectrometer illustrated in Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a side view of a hand-held spectrometer according to a sixth embodiment of this invention.
• a light source 1 is placed in a reflector casing 2. Light emitted from the light source 1 is directed onto a material to be examined 3. Reflected radiation converges at a lens 4, whereupon the central beam impinges on a grating 6 through an entrance slit 5. The radiation is dispersed by the grating 6 into different wavelengths.
• a plate 7 is placed in the dispersed radiation beam, and has openings 8 which correspond to selected wavelength positions within the spectrum. First ends of light conductors 9 are installed in the openings 8 in plate 7.
• the other ends of the light conductors are each inserted into an opening in selector plate 10, with the light conductors ending at a surface 11 of the plate.
• the selector plate 10 can be moved with a stepping motor (not shown) so that the detector 12 only sees the light from a particular light conductor through an opening 13 in an opaque plate 14 inserted between the selector plate 10 and the detector 12.
• the detector 12 is connected to a processing system (not shown).
• a light source 201 is placed in a reflector casing 202.
• the light converges at a lens 204 so that it impinges on a grating 206 through an entrance slit 205.
• the radiation is dispersed by the grating into different wavelengths.
• a plate 207 is placed in the dispersed radiation beam, which plate is provided with openings 208 positionally corresponding to selected wavelengths.
• First ends of light conductors 209 are installed in the openings 208 of plate 207.
• the other ends of the light conductors are each inserted into selector plate 210, with the light conductors ending at the surface 211 of the plate 210.
• An opaque plate 214 is provided behind this selector plate with an opening 213.
• This plate 214 can ce moved with a stepping motor (not shown) so that only the light from a particular light conductor can pass through the opening 213.
• the light passing through this opening 213 diverges at a lens 216 whereupon the diverged radiation impinges on the material to be examined 203.
• the radiation reflected by the material converges at lens 217 and then impinges on detector 212.
• the detector is connected to a processing system (not shown).
• the IR spectrometer of the invention can be made very compact for easy handling.
• the IR spectrometer may be advantageously used in the field recycling of plastic materials in general, provided that the specific wavelengths are selected as appropriate for the given material characteristics.
• Figs. 3 and 4 are identical to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, except that they illustrate the situation where light passing through the sample material is collected and evaluated in the spectrometer.
• Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a device which may be used for determining the spectral qualities of post consumer waste carpet.
• a spectrometer 100 has a rotary filter wheel 102 which is driven by a motor 104.
• Light is provided by one or more lamps 106 on one side of the spectrometer 100 to impinge on a sample of post consumer waste carpet 108.
• Light reflected by the sample 108 is collected by a lens 110, is directed through the rotary filter wheel 102 and sensed by a PbS or InGaAs detector 112.
• a rotary filter wheel 102 is shown in Fig. 6.
• 4 filters 114 (A-D) are provided on the rotary filter wheel 102.
• a hole 116 is provided in the center of the rotary filter wheel 102 to receive a drive shaft 118 extending from the motor 104.
• the motor 104 causes the rotary filter wheel 102 to rotate so that light passing through lens 110 will be filtered according to the specific qualities possessed by the filters 114.
• the detector 112 detects the filtered light and provides signals to an electronic circuit 120 which outputs the result.
• Fig. 7 is another example of a spectrometer
• a light source 106 produces infrared radiation which is filtered by a rotary filter system 102, 104, 118.
• the filter passes predetermined wavelengths which exit the spectrometer housing via optics 122.
• the predetermined wavelengths After exiting the spectrometer housing, the predetermined wavelengths impinge on the sample of post consumer waste carpet 108 and are reflected by the sample of post consumer waste carpet 108.
• One or more detectors 112 detect the reflected light and output a signal to an electronic circuit 120 which outputs the result.
• this example has illustrated optics which emit light from only one side of the spectrometer, the light passing through the filter could alternatively be divided and exit the spectrometer at various locations.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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• 1995
  • 1995-07-06 NL NL1000738A patent/NL1000738C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1996
  • 1996-07-05 CN CNB961966890A patent/CN1221799C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-07-05 WO PCT/NL1996/000280 patent/WO1997002481A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1996-07-05 JP JP9505031A patent/JPH11508689A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 1996-07-05 KR KR10-1998-0700096A patent/KR100460972B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-07-05 CA CA002226095A patent/CA2226095A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-07-05 MX MX9800206A patent/MX9800206A/es not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-07-05 EP EP96922283A patent/EP0836705A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1996-07-06 MY MYPI96002800A patent/MY118331A/en unknown
  • 1996-07-15 TW TW085108557A patent/TW298614B/zh active

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