JP5013376B2 - Separation equipment for brominated flame retardant-containing plastics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a plastic separation apparatus containing a brominated flame retardant.

  For resins such as plastics used for home appliances, some flame retardant resins containing a flame retardant are used. The flame retardant content is usually 1 to 30% by weight, and brominated flame retardants are mainly used as the flame retardant.

  On the other hand, in order to comply with the Home Appliance Recycling Law, recycling technology for plastic pieces is necessary. It has become an important technology. In addition, while promoting the effective use of recycled resin for home appliances, the inclusion of brominated flame retardants in hazardous substance regulations represented by the European RoHS Directive (Directive on Restriction of Use of Specific Hazardous Substances Included in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) In order to comply with the volume regulation, it is necessary to prevent the brominated flame retardant from being mixed into the recycled resin in the recycling process of the waste plastic piece.

  As a plastic or metal separation device, in general, a separation object is transported by a conveying means such as a conveyor, the separation object is irradiated with fluorescent X-rays (X-rays), and data of a detector arranged at an inspection position is obtained. There has been proposed a separation apparatus having a separation method that sequentially samples periodically, activates a discharge mechanism in response to the data, and discharges into a different compartment storage box (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In the separation apparatus having these separation methods, by using continuous X-ray irradiation with an X-ray tube, fluorescent X-rays generated from the contained elements of the separation object are detected by a semiconductor detector, and the wavelength and energy are analyzed. Or it is the structure provided with the X-ray irradiation process, the detection process, and the data analysis process which use the data using the difference in the X-ray absorption characteristic by the difference in the material of a separation target object.
JP 2004-219366 A JP-A-5-131176

  In such a sorting apparatus equipped with fluorescent X-rays, when a large amount of waste plastic resin pieces are sorted, for example, to detect bromine (Br), it is necessary to measure the resin pieces a great number of times. Therefore, the measurement becomes complicated. In addition, in order to reduce the number of measurements and simplify the measurement, a detector array such as an X-ray line sensor or a large area detector such as an X-ray imaging intensifier can be used. It is conceivable to measure the difference in X-ray absorption characteristics due to the difference in the material of the separation object.

  However, in a detector that continuously irradiates such a large area with X-rays and continuously detects characteristic X-rays or transmitted X-rays, the X-ray source There is a problem that the sensitivity decreases due to the deterioration of the sensor or the detector, the erroneous determination of the Br content occurs, and the resin piece to be sorted passes through.

  In addition, as a countermeasure, a method of correcting the sensitivity of the sequential detector while periodically measuring a resin piece serving as a concentration reference is conceivable. In order not to mix them, there is a problem that a mechanism for placing them on separate moving means and collecting them separately is required, which increases the cost. Further, in the above countermeasures, if the timing at which an erroneous determination of the Br content starts to occur due to the deterioration of the detector is earlier than the timing of the sensitivity correction by the concentration reference resin piece measurement, the resin piece to be selected is not detected. There is a problem of letting it pass.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and is a brominated flame retardant-containing plastic using X-ray detection, which can negate the influence of a decrease in detection sensitivity in long-term continuous operation. The object is to provide a sorting device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a plastic separator for brominated flame retardants according to the present invention comprises an X-ray source for generating X-rays, a sample holding device for holding a plastic sample, and an X-ray transmitted through the plastic sample. Analyzing the X-ray detector to detect, the bromine-containing material containing bromine at the specified concentration, the intensity of transmitted X-rays detected from the plastic sample and bromine-containing material, and analyzing the bromine-based difficulty contained in the plastic sample It has a data processing device for discriminating the amount of the fuel, and a separation mechanism for separating a plastic sample having a bromine concentration higher than a prescribed concentration of bromine-containing material based on a signal from the data processing device.

  In the sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the sample holding device is a conveyor, and the plastic sample is moved along the moving direction of the conveyor.

  Moreover, this invention arrange | positions the said bromine containing material in a conveyor in the said sorting apparatus, and within the range to detect with the transmission X-ray intensity of the part which has arrange | positioned the bromine containing material in the range which an X-ray detector detects. Analyzing the maximum transmitted X-ray intensity and determining the content of brominated flame retardants in plastic samples, and bromine from the specified concentration of the bromine-containing material based on the signal from the data processing device And a separation mechanism for separating plastic having a concentration.

  In the said sorting apparatus, the aspect which provided the part which arrange | positions the said bromine containing material on the line parallel with the moving direction of this conveyor and this conveyor is included.

  Further, in the fractionation apparatus, a non-bromine-containing sample is further arranged on a conveyor, and the bromine-containing part is arranged on a line parallel to the moving direction of the conveyor and the non-bromine-containing sample. Are disposed alternately and periodically, and at least one of the portions where the bromine-containing material is disposed during one cycle of the moving conveyor is included in the detection range of the X-ray detector. It can be set as the aspect by which the length of the conveyor moving direction of the part which arrange | positions a bromine containing material and the part which arrange | positions a non-bromine containing sample was adjusted.

  Further, according to the present invention, there are provided M parts (M is an integer) where the bromine-containing material is arranged on a line parallel to the conveyor and the moving direction of the conveyor, and the conveyor of the part where the bromine-containing material is arranged. The length in the moving direction is 1 / M of the length of one cycle of the conveyor, and the length of the portion where the M bromine-containing materials are arranged does not overlap with the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the conveyor. Including the arranged embodiment.

  In addition, the present invention includes an embodiment in which a plurality of bromine-containing materials are arranged in the detection range of the X-ray detector, and the plurality of bromine-containing materials have at least two specified concentrations.

  When a plurality of bromine-containing materials are arranged, the plurality of bromine-containing materials are permanently installed within the detection range of the X-ray detector, and the transmission X-ray data of the plastic sample and the plurality of bromine-containing materials are analyzed. A calibration curve is obtained based on the data, and based on the calibration curve, the content of the brominated flame retardant in the plastic sample is quantified. Based on the signal from the data processing apparatus, the plastic sample is And an aspect having a separation mechanism for separating according to the content of the flame retardant.

  In the separation method and separation apparatus for brominated flame retardant-containing plastics according to the present invention, a place where the bromine concentration is defined in the X-ray detection range is intentionally provided, and from the X-ray intensity from the separation object and a prescribed amount of bromine. Since the X-ray intensity is simultaneously measured and the relative value is evaluated, it is possible to nullify the influence of the entire sensitivity deterioration due to the deterioration of the X-ray source or the detector. Therefore, it is possible to provide a bromine-based flame retardant-containing plastic separation device that does not require maintenance for a longer period of time compared to a measuring instrument deterioration determination method that periodically measures a concentration reference sample that defines the bromine concentration.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail. In the following description of the embodiments, the description is made with reference to the drawings. In the drawings of the present application, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts.

<Separation device>
The sorting apparatus of the present invention includes an X-ray source that generates X-rays, a sample holding device that holds a plastic sample, and an X-ray detector that detects X-rays that have passed through the plastic sample. With these configurations, an analysis method described later becomes possible, and the bromine concentration in the brominated flame retardant can be quantified and fractionated.

<Detection principle 1>
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a detection range of an X-ray detector of a bromine-based flame retardant-containing plastic sorting apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which a plurality of plastic samples are used. The X-ray 12 generated from the X-ray tube 1 (X-ray source) shown in FIG. 1 is a resin piece 4 (Br-containing resin) which is a plurality of plastic samples arranged on a resin holding plate 3 (sample holding device). Each of the piece 4a or the non-Br containing resin piece 4b) is irradiated, and the transmitted X-ray P is detected by the X-ray detector 5. In the present invention, “Br-containing resin piece” means “resin piece having a Br concentration of not less than a threshold value”, and “Br non-containing resin piece” means “resin piece having a Br concentration less than the threshold value”. To do. In FIG. 1, a known substance (threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a) containing Br corresponding to a prescribed concentration (threshold concentration) to be separated (separated) is arranged at one place in the X-ray detection range. In FIG. 1, each plastic sample is arranged on coordinates defined by (x _n , y _m ) (n and m are integers) in the X-ray detector, and a threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a is arranged on x _1. the Br-containing resin pieces 4a disposed on the x _3, are arranged Br-free resin piece 4b on the other x-coordinate x ₂ and x ₄ ~x _n. In FIG. 1, the arrangement of only the x coordinate is shown. In FIG. 1, the resin holding plate 3 and the resin piece 4 are installed in parallel to the detection surface of the X-ray detector 5. The threshold concentration is a value determined based on various bromine content regulations or a value determined by the user based on the value.

  The X-ray detector 5 can measure the X intensity distribution in a line or in a plane. For example, an X-ray line sensor, an X-ray imaging intensifier, an X-ray CCD camera, an X-ray scintillator, a position-sensitive proportional type An X-ray detector having no energy resolution such as a counter tube is used. When these X-ray detectors are used, the location of the Br-containing resin piece 4a can be specified because the transmitted X-ray intensity is weak at the location of the Br-containing resin piece 4a. Further, when these detectors are used, it is possible to visualize the X intensity distribution in the line or in the plane. In the visualized image, the Br-containing resin piece 4a is displayed with lower brightness than the Br-non-containing resin piece 4b.

FIG. 2 is a graph of the relationship between the X-ray detection intensity and the Br content when the plastic sample arrangement of FIG. 1 is taken as an example. In FIG. 2, a plot 6 (●) of transmitted X-ray intensity of a Br-containing resin piece, a plot 7 (◯) of transmitted X-ray intensity of a Br-free resin piece, and a transmitted X-ray intensity plot of a threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 8 will be described below. The non-Br-containing resin piece has a Br content below various threshold values. In FIG. 2, the X-ray intensity at the x-coordinate x ₃ located below the Br-containing resin piece 4a is lower than the X-ray intensity at the x-coordinate x ₁ located below the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a. X-ray intensity in the other x-coordinate x ₂ and x ₄ on ~x _n located under the piece 4b is higher than the X-ray intensity at a coordinate x ₁ located under the threshold bromine concentration specified material 2a. From the detected transmitted X-ray intensity, it can be seen whether the bromine content is higher or lower than the threshold concentration, and the Br-containing resin piece and the Br-non-containing resin piece can be distinguished.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an X-ray detection range when a detector capable of measuring an in-plane X-ray intensity distribution such as an X-ray CCD camera is used. In FIG. 3, the X-ray detection range is divided by coordinates defined by (x _n , y _m ) (n and m are integers) and, for example, a threshold bromine concentration regulating substance that is separated into coordinates (x ₁ , y ₁ ) 2a is arranged. At other coordinates, the Br-containing resin pieces 4a and the Br-non-containing resin pieces 4b are randomly arranged.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between transmitted X-ray intensity and Br content at each coordinate in the configuration of FIG. Each plot has the same notation as FIG. Also in FIG. 4, as in FIG. 2, the X-ray intensity at the coordinates (x ₂ , y ₄ ) and the like located under the Br-containing resin piece 4a is the coordinates (x ₁ , y ₁ ) lower than the X-ray intensity. Further, the X-ray intensity at the coordinates (x ₁ , y ₂ ) and the like located under the Br-free resin piece 4b is the X-ray intensity at the coordinates (x ₁ and y ₁ ) located under the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a. Higher than. From the detected transmitted X-ray intensity, it can be seen whether the bromine content is higher or lower than the threshold concentration, and the Br-containing resin piece and the Br-non-containing resin piece can be distinguished.

<Detection principle 2>
FIG. 5 is a side view of the configuration in FIG. 1 in which a portion where the resin piece 4 is not disposed is provided in a part of the X-ray detection range. As an example, a portion where the resin piece 4 is not disposed is disposed at the x coordinate x _k . A sample other than the resin piece 4 is not arranged in a portion where the resin piece 4 is not arranged (non-arranged portion). In FIG. 5, the transmitted X-ray intensity detected at the x coordinate x _k is the same as the X-ray intensity generated from the X-ray tube 1 and is the highest intensity in the detection range.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the transmitted X-ray intensity at each coordinate and the Br content in the configuration of FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the X-ray intensity of the portion where the resin piece 4 is not disposed (x coordinate x _k ) is zero in Br content, and the transmitted X-ray intensity at the x coordinate x ₁ where the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a is disposed. A calibration curve can be created from this plot. Based on this calibration curve, the Br content of each resin piece 4 can be accurately quantified. In this case, it is not necessary to correct the bromine concentration of the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a so that it matches the actual threshold concentration. Similar to the detection principle 1, the same effect can be obtained by using a detector capable of measuring an in-plane X-ray intensity distribution such as an X-ray CCD camera.

<Detection principle 3>
FIG. 7 is a side view of a configuration in which the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2b set to a threshold concentration different from the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a is arranged in a part of the X-ray detection range in FIG. . As an example, the second bromine concentration regulating portion 2b is arranged at the coordinate _xn , and the concentration relation of threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a <threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2b is established. Therefore, the transmitted X-ray intensity detected at the coordinate x _n is smaller than the transmitted X-ray intensity detected at the coordinate x ₁ .

  FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the transmitted X-ray intensity at each coordinate and the Br content in the configuration of FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 8, a calibration curve can be created from a plot of transmitted X-ray intensity at two points where threshold bromine concentration-defining substances having different bromine concentrations are arranged, and the Br content of each resin piece 4 can be quantified. Further, in this case, it is not necessary to correct the bromine concentrations of the respective threshold bromine concentration defining substances 2a and 2b so as to coincide with the actual threshold concentrations. Similar to the detection principle 1, the same effect can be obtained when a detector capable of measuring the in-plane X-ray intensity distribution such as an X-ray CCD camera is used. As can be seen from this principle, it is possible to determine the bromine content with higher accuracy by providing a plurality of locations where the threshold bromine concentration regulating substances having different bromine concentrations are arranged.

  In accordance with the detection principles 2 and 3 above, the bromine content is accurately quantified, not only to the two levels of “bromine-containing and non-bromine-containing”, but also to the bromine content range of more than three levels such as fractionation by multiple concentrations. be able to.

<Detection principle 4>
In the detection principles 1 to 3 described above, the detection principle and the identification method of the Br content contained in the plastic sample (resin piece 4) have been described. All of these are the amounts of Br that are always the concentration standard within one measurement cycle. By detecting the contained resin piece at the same time as the resin piece of unknown concentration, it is possible to continue to determine the detailed Br content in any cycle. By using these principles and repeating the measurement cycle many times, the further effects described below can be obtained.

  FIG. 9 shows the time-dependent fluctuations in X-ray intensity measured values that pass through each of the Br-containing resin piece 4a, the Br-non-containing resin piece 4b, and the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a when the measurement is repeated a plurality of times. It is a graph showing. By repeating the measurement, the irradiation X-ray intensity decreases due to the deterioration of the X-ray tube 1 or the detection X-ray intensity decreases due to the deterioration of the X-ray detector 5, that is, the transmission X It can be seen that the line detection sensitivity decreases.

  On the other hand, FIG. 18 shows a measured value of transmitted X-ray intensity when the threshold bromine concentration-defining substance 2a is not disposed in the same measurement cycle, that is, when there is no transmitted X-ray intensity data by the threshold bromine concentration-defining substance 2a. It is a graph. In this case, generally, a transmission X-ray intensity measurement value 11 of a Br-containing resin piece with a known concentration measured in advance is used as a comparison value. In FIG. 18, when the detection sensitivity of transmitted X-rays of the entire detection system is lowered, the transmitted X-ray intensity of the Br-free resin piece 4a at a certain measurement time is lower than the transmitted X-ray intensity corresponding to the previously measured threshold value. After this measurement time, erroneous determination occurs in which all resin pieces are determined as Br-containing resin pieces regardless of whether or not bromine is contained. On the other hand, if the transmission X-ray intensity plot 8 of the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance is obtained in each measurement as in the present invention shown in FIG. It can be seen that no erroneous determination occurs.

  As described above, in any of the detection principles 1 to 3 described above, when repeated measurement is performed, the detection system is deteriorated by always including the threshold concentration regulating substance in the detection range, similarly to the effect of the detection principle. However, there is an effect that erroneous determination of the presence or absence of bromine does not occur.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 10 is a side view showing the configuration of the X-ray detection apparatus and the brominated flame retardant-containing plastic separation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a top view showing a configuration on the conveyor of the X-ray detection apparatus and the brominated flame retardant-containing plastic sorting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  10 and 11, a resin piece 4 (consisting of a Br-containing resin piece 4 a and a Br-non-containing resin piece 4 b) is sequentially placed by a supply device 13 on a conveyor 3 that is a sample holding device. The plastic sample moves along the moving direction A of the conveyor, and is carried so as to pass through the place where the X-ray detector is installed. The X-ray detection apparatus is configured such that X-rays 12 generated from the X-ray tube 1 pass through the resin piece 4 and are detected by the X-ray detector 5. In the conveyor 3, the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2 a is arranged on a line passing through a part of the X-ray detector 5, and X-rays that pass through the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2 a are also detected by the X-ray detector 5. It is configured to be detected. The broken line in FIG. 11 indicates the detection range of the X-ray detector. As the X-ray detector 5, for example, an X-ray line sensor, an X-ray imaging intensifier, an X-ray CCD camera, an X-ray scintillator, a position sensitive proportional counter, or the like can be used.

  The plastic sample (resin piece 4) is preferably arranged so that the resin pieces do not overlap in the vertical direction when placed on the conveyor from the supply device 13 in terms of detection efficiency. By controlling the moving speed and the supply speed and position of the plastic sample (resin piece 4), the resin pieces can be arranged so as not to overlap.

  The threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a is affixed to a conveyor with a resin piece that has been measured to have a prescribed concentration in advance, or a bromine-containing volatile liquid solution or aqueous solution or the like on the conveyor so that the bromine amount corresponds to the prescribed concentration. After being applied to a part of the film and dried, it may be arranged by sealing using a sealant or the like that has been confirmed in advance to contain no bromine.

  The X-ray intensity of each coordinate detected by the X-ray detector 5 is determined by the data processing apparatus 14 from the detected transmitted X-ray intensity, as described in the detection principle 1, 2, or 4 above. An analysis for determining the content is performed, and whether or not each of the resin pieces 4 needs to be sorted is sent to the sorting mechanism 15 as a data signal. The separation mechanism 15 stores a resin piece in a storage box 16 installed to separate the bromine content by an air blow or vacuum suction nozzle based on the data signal or a resin piece falling from a moving conveyor. Is placed on the next conveyor.

  By using the first embodiment in combination with the above detection principles 1, 2, or 4, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of bromine content due to a decrease in X-ray detection sensitivity of the entire system in continuous operation, and highly accurate bromine content. The determination is continued, and a long-term maintenance-free separation device that can continue to accurately separate the Br-containing resin piece 4a and the Br-non-containing resin piece 4b is obtained.

  Further, according to the detection principle 3, the plastic sample can be separated into three levels or more according to the bromine content, and the resin pieces can be collected. For example, by separately collecting the concentration in the vicinity of the threshold value, it can be sent to another sorting means with higher accuracy later. The higher-accuracy separation means may be, for example, the separation device of the present invention in which the rotation speed of the conveyor is lowered and the detection X-ray accuracy is increased, or is long like a normal fluorescent X-ray spectrometer. It may be a time-consuming means.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 12 is a top view showing the configuration on the conveyor of the X-ray detection apparatus and the brominated flame retardant-containing plastic separation apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The configuration of the present embodiment is an aspect in which a plurality of threshold bromine concentration regulating substances 2a and 2b are arranged. As shown in FIG. 12, the size of the portion in which the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a is arranged is the size of the resin piece 4 In particular, the length is the same as the length of the resin piece 4 in the conveyor movement direction A. Then, the threshold bromine concentration specified material 2a, except that periodically and repeatedly arranged at the same distance d ₂ and length d ₁ of the moving direction A of the detection range of the X-ray detector 5, the same as in the first embodiment It is a configuration. Further, on the conveyor, it is preferable that the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2 is provided with a portion disposed on a line parallel to the conveyor and the moving direction A of the conveyor.

  In the configuration of the first embodiment, the following problem occurs when continuous measurement is performed by moving the conveyor. That is, when the resin pieces 4 are randomly placed on the conveyor, the plastic sample moves along the moving direction A of the conveyor between the integration start time and the integration end time in one transmission X-ray intensity integration cycle. Therefore, in each coordinate of the detection range of the X-ray detector from the start to the end of integration, X-rays that have passed through the plastic sample and X-rays that do not pass through the plastic sample (of the portion where the plastic sample is not disposed) Transmission X-ray). On the other hand, in the detection range of the detector corresponding to the coordinates for detecting the X-rays that pass through the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a, X-rays that have always passed through the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a are detected from the start to the end of integration. Will continue. That is, in the same cycle, the accumulated intensity of the bromine concentration regulating substance 2a and the accumulated intensity of the plastic sample cause an error due to a difference in the time during which the object has actually passed. It is necessary to include an algorithm for correcting the difference such as the detection integration time. This algorithm requires fine adjustment that is optimized sequentially in accordance with parameters such as the moving speed of the conveyor 3, the size of the average resin piece 4, and the accumulated time of X-ray detection.

  By using the present embodiment in combination with the above detection principles 1, 2, or 4, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of bromine content due to a decrease in X-ray detection sensitivity of the entire system in continuous operation while eliminating these problems, and A long-term maintenance-free fractionation device that can continue to separate the Br-containing resin piece 4a and the Br-non-containing resin piece 4b and has a high-accuracy bromine content determination capability is obtained.

  Further, according to the detection principle 3, the plastic sample can be separated into three or more levels according to the bromine content, and the resin pieces can be collected. Similar to the first embodiment, for example, by separately collecting the concentration in the vicinity of the threshold value, it can be sent to another higher-accuracy separation device later.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 13 is a top view schematically showing the configuration of the conveyor 3 that is peeled off and extended from the drive unit in the X-ray detection apparatus and the bromine-based flame retardant plastic separating apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. is there. That is, FIG. 13 shows a schematic surface of one sample of the sample holder of the conveyor 3.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the conveyor is divided into M line segments along the moving direction, and the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2 a arranged on each line segment is moved in the moving direction of the conveyor 3. The threshold value is set so that the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a passes through the entire detection range of the X-ray detector 5 at least once while the conveyor 3 does not overlap in the moving direction and the vertical direction. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the bromine concentration regulating substance 2a is arranged. Here, the plastic sample feeder 13 senses the prescribed substance by, for example, a sensor so that the plastic sample (resin piece 4) is not placed on the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a, and the resin piece 4 is removed accordingly. Has a function to supply.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the arrangement method of the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a may be a plurality of cycles, or may be arranged randomly as shown in FIG. The threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a only needs to pass through the detection range of the X-ray detector 5 at least once while the conveyor 3 makes one round. 14 is a diagram showing an arrangement in which the arrangement of the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a shown in FIG. 13 is repeated for two cycles, and FIG. 15 is an arrangement of the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning at the time of being provided at random.

  By using this configuration and the analysis means based on the detection principle 1, 2, or 4, it is possible to monitor the X-ray detection sensitivity decrease of the entire system in continuous operation in the coordinate unit of the X-ray detector 5, and in the coordinate unit. While correcting the decrease in detection sensitivity, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of bromine content and continue to perform highly accurate bromine content determination. As a result, the Br-containing resin piece 4a and the non-Br-containing resin piece 4b A long-term maintenance-free sorting device can be obtained that can continue to sort correctly.

  Further, by applying the analysis means based on the detection principle 3, the plastic sample can be separated into three levels or more according to the bromine content and recovered. Further, as in the first embodiment, for example, by separately collecting the concentration in the vicinity of the threshold value, it can be sent to another higher-accuracy separation device later.

<Embodiment 4>
FIG. 16 is a top view showing a configuration on the conveyor of the X-ray detection apparatus and the brominated flame retardant-containing plastic separation apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, in addition to the threshold bromine concentration defining substance 2a, a threshold bromine concentration defining substance 2b containing bromine having a defined concentration (threshold concentration) different from the threshold bromine concentration defining substance 2a is arranged. 1 is the same configuration. The portion where the threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2b is arranged is not particularly limited on the conveyor as long as it does not overlap with the portion where the other threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2a is arranged. For example, as shown in FIG. It can be provided in parallel with the conveyor moving direction A along the outer periphery of the conveyor.

  By using such a configuration and the analysis means based on the detection principle 3 or 4 above, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of bromine content due to a decrease in X-ray detection sensitivity of the entire system in continuous operation and to have a single threshold concentration. Long-term maintenance-free separation that can continue the determination of the bromine content with higher accuracy than when the specified substance is placed, and can continue to separate the Br-containing resin piece 4a and the Br-non-containing resin piece 4b accurately. A device is obtained.

  In combination with the detection principle 2 or 3, the plastic sample can be separated into three levels or more according to the bromine content and collected. Further, as in the first embodiment, for example, by separately collecting the concentration in the vicinity of the threshold value, it is possible to pass it to another higher-accuracy separation device later.

<Embodiment 5>
FIG. 17 is a top view showing a configuration on the conveyor of the X-ray detection apparatus and the brominated flame retardant-containing plastic separation apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

In the configuration of the present embodiment, the size of the portion where each of the threshold bromine concentration regulating substances 2a and 2b is arranged is the same as the average size of the resin pieces 4, as shown in FIG. The length is the same as the length of the resin piece 4 in the moving direction A. The configuration is the same as that of the fifth embodiment, except that a plurality of X-ray detection regions are arranged with a period of the same distance d ₂ as the length d ₁ in the moving direction. As long as the distance between the threshold bromine concentration specified material adjacent each identical is d _2, the position of the conveyor moving direction A and the vertical direction of the heterologous prescribed material may be the same or may be different .

  By using the configuration of the present embodiment, the difference between the transmission X-ray accumulation condition from the concentration-regulating substance and the transmission X-ray accumulation condition depending on the presence or absence of the plastic sample on the conveyor, as in the second embodiment. It is possible to prevent erroneous determination of bromine content due to a decrease in X-ray detection sensitivity of the entire system in continuous operation, and to continue highly accurate determination of bromine content. As a result, a long-term maintenance-free separation device that can continue to accurately separate the Br-containing resin piece 4a and the Br-non-containing resin piece 4b is obtained.

  Further, according to the detection principle 2 or 3, the plastic sample can be separated into three levels or more according to the bromine content and recovered. Further, as in the first embodiment, for example, by separately collecting the concentration in the vicinity of the threshold value, it can be sent to another higher-accuracy separation device later.

  As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but it is also planned from the beginning to appropriately combine the configurations of the above-described embodiments.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  According to the separation apparatus of the present invention, not only a brominated flame retardant-containing plastic but also a target substance having a threshold concentration is used to remove impurities contained in the substance with unknown concentrations. It becomes possible to sort according to the content concentration.

It is a side view which shows an example of a structure of the X-ray detection apparatus in this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the X-ray detection intensity in this invention, and bromine content. It is a top view which shows the positional relationship of the X-ray detector in this invention, a resin piece, and a threshold bromine concentration regulation substance. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the X-ray detection intensity in this invention, and bromine content. It is a side view which shows another example of a structure of the X-ray detection apparatus in this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the X-ray detection intensity and bromine content in another example in this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the X-ray detection apparatus in another example in this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the X-ray detection intensity and bromine content in another example in this invention. It is a graph which shows a time-dependent change of the X-ray detection intensity in this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the sorting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a top view which shows the positional relationship structure of the conveyor of the sorting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1, a detector, and a threshold bromine concentration regulation substance. It is a top view which shows the positional relationship structure of the conveyor of the sorting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2, a detector, and a threshold bromine concentration regulation substance. It is a top view which shows the structure of the positional relationship of the conveyor of the sorting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3, a detector, and a threshold bromine concentration regulation substance. It is a top view which shows the structure of the positional relationship of the conveyor of the sorting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3, a detector, and a threshold bromine concentration regulation substance. It is a top view which shows the structure of the positional relationship of the conveyor of the sorting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3, a detector, and a threshold bromine concentration regulation substance. It is a top view which shows the structure of the positional relationship of the conveyor of the sorting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4, a detector, and a threshold bromine concentration regulation substance. It is a top view which shows the structure of the positional relationship of the conveyor of the sorting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5, a detector, and a threshold bromine concentration regulation substance. It is a graph which shows a time-dependent change of the X-ray detection intensity in a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

  1 X-ray tube, 2a, 2b Threshold bromine concentration regulating substance, 3 conveyor, 4 resin piece, 4a Br-containing resin piece, 4b Br-non-containing resin piece, 5 X-ray detector, 6 Br-containing resin piece transmitted X-ray Intensity plot, transmission X-ray intensity plot of 7 Br-free resin piece, 8 transmission X-ray intensity plot of threshold bromine concentration regulating substance, 9 X-ray intensity plot transmitted through conveyor only, 10 transmission X-ray of threshold bromine concentration regulating substance 2b Intensity plot, 11 Transmitted X-ray intensity of threshold bromine concentration regulating substance measured in advance, 12 Irradiation X-ray, 13 Feeder, 14 Data processing device, 15 Sorting device, 16 Recovery unit.

Claims (5)

An X-ray source for generating X-rays;
A sample holding device for holding a plastic sample;
An X-ray detector for detecting X-rays transmitted through the plastic sample;
A bromine-containing material containing a prescribed concentration of bromine;
A data processing device for analyzing the intensity of transmitted X-rays detected from the plastic sample and the bromine-containing material, and determining the amount of brominated flame retardant contained in the plastic sample;
Possess a fractionation mechanism for separating plastic samples with higher bromine concentration than the prescribed concentrations of the bromine-containing compounds based on the signal from the data processing device,
The sample holding device is a conveyor,
The plastic sample moves along the moving direction of the conveyor,
Placing the bromine-containing material on the conveyor;
The data processing apparatus performs data analysis on a transmitted X-ray intensity of a portion where the bromine-containing material is disposed within a range for detecting the X-ray and a maximum transmitted X-ray intensity within the detected range, and the plastic sample Separation device for brominated flame retardant-containing plastics that discriminates the content of brominated flame retardant. An X-ray source for generating X-rays;
A sample holding device for holding a plastic sample;
An X-ray detector for detecting X-rays transmitted through the plastic sample;
A bromine-containing material containing a prescribed concentration of bromine;
A data processing device for analyzing the intensity of transmitted X-rays detected from the plastic sample and the bromine-containing material, and determining the amount of brominated flame retardant contained in the plastic sample;
A separation mechanism for separating a plastic sample based on a signal from the data processing device;
The sample holding device is a conveyor,
The plastic sample moves along the moving direction of the conveyor,
Placing the bromine-containing material on the conveyor;
The data processing apparatus performs data analysis on a transmitted X-ray intensity of a portion where the bromine-containing material is disposed within a range for detecting the X-ray and a maximum transmitted X-ray intensity within the detected range, and the plastic sample Separation device for brominated flame retardant-containing plastics that discriminates the content of brominated flame retardant. Before SL fractionator brominated flame retardant-containing plastics stated parts of placing the bromine-containing compound to claim 1 or 2 provided in the moving direction line parallel against the direction of the conveyor. The conveyor is a belt conveyor;
Before Symbol the bromine-containing compound at a predetermined distance in the moving direction line parallel against the direction of the conveyor periodically and repeatedly arranged,
As at least one location of the portion where the conveyor to be moved to place the bromine-containing compound during one cycle are included within the scope of detecting the X-ray, the predetermined distance is adjusted according to claim 1 or 2 The apparatus for separating plastics containing brominated flame retardants according to 1. The conveyor is a belt conveyor;
Before SL said portion to place the bromine-containing compounds are M parallel line against the movement Direction of the conveyor (M is an integer) is provided,
The length of the portion in which the bromine-containing material is disposed in the conveyor movement direction is 1 / M of the length of one cycle of the conveyor, and
The fractionation of the brominated flame retardant-containing plastic according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a length of a portion where the M bromine-containing materials are arranged is not overlapped in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the conveyor. apparatus.

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