Researchers develop new process which will greatly simplify the process of sorting plastics in recycling plants

Researchers at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Germany have developed a new process which will greatly simplify the process of sorting plastics in recycling plants.
The new technique involves exposing particles of plastic to a brief flash of light which causes the material to fluoresce. Sensors then measure the intensity of the light emitted in response to the inducing photoexcitation to determine the dynamics of its decay. Because the different polymer materials display specific fluorescence lifetimes, the results can be used to identify their chemical nature. An article about the research is published in Green and Sustainable Chemistry (News Item LMU, 21 August 2014).
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Click here for the published article (2.85 MB).

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