Plastic Packaging Recycling using Intelligent Separation technologies for Materials (PRISM)
Lead Research Organisation:
Brunel University London
Department Name: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Abstract
PRISM is a new way of rapidly sorting packaging based on intelligent labels with invisible markers that can be detected and
sorted using existing high-speed optical sorting systems used in MRFs with minor modifications. The labels and the
markers are removed completely by the recycling process. This technology uses commercial labelling and decoration
methods which are coded with high performing luminescent compounds to sort targeted streams including food-contact
plastics, bioplastics, chemical packaging, automotive plastics, black plastics and different grades of one plastic. Sorting is
accomplished using modifications to existing NIR sorting machinery. The new technology can boost recycling plant yields
with efficient ways of sorting materials such as PP packaging used for food, HDPE milk bottles and sleeved PET and
increase recovery of food grade plastics and open up new markets for recovered plastics. This technology will be
compatible with all NIR sorting equipment. It will help brand owners to ensure that packaging reaches the recycling loop
and boost UK recycling performance.
sorted using existing high-speed optical sorting systems used in MRFs with minor modifications. The labels and the
markers are removed completely by the recycling process. This technology uses commercial labelling and decoration
methods which are coded with high performing luminescent compounds to sort targeted streams including food-contact
plastics, bioplastics, chemical packaging, automotive plastics, black plastics and different grades of one plastic. Sorting is
accomplished using modifications to existing NIR sorting machinery. The new technology can boost recycling plant yields
with efficient ways of sorting materials such as PP packaging used for food, HDPE milk bottles and sleeved PET and
increase recovery of food grade plastics and open up new markets for recovered plastics. This technology will be
compatible with all NIR sorting equipment. It will help brand owners to ensure that packaging reaches the recycling loop
and boost UK recycling performance.
Planned Impact
Who will benefit?
Manufacturers of plastic bottles and other plastic containers will benefit in two ways, a) they will be able to safely re-use
recycled polymers knowing they have not been contaminated with anything unwanted or dangerous in the waste stream; b)
the processing temperatures compared to virgin polymer will be less and hence less energy will be required and less new
virgin material will be required.
The food manufacturing industry will be able to boast the use of recycled material to underline their green credentials that
can be further recycled.
Local councils will need to dispose of less packaging materials by landfill or incineration and the waste will have a positive
monetary value.
The environment will benefit since there will be less waste materials and less virgin polymer required.
The successful conclusion of the project will lead to this technology going into widespread use for all kinds of waste
recognition not just for polymers but it could also be applied to many manufactured parts such as automobiles, electrical
goods, textiles. Hence to whole recycling industry where there is enough waste material to make a commercial case.
These labels could be develop for many materials, not just polymers. Therefore the environmental benefits of the
technology will be huge.
Manufacturers of plastic bottles and other plastic containers will benefit in two ways, a) they will be able to safely re-use
recycled polymers knowing they have not been contaminated with anything unwanted or dangerous in the waste stream; b)
the processing temperatures compared to virgin polymer will be less and hence less energy will be required and less new
virgin material will be required.
The food manufacturing industry will be able to boast the use of recycled material to underline their green credentials that
can be further recycled.
Local councils will need to dispose of less packaging materials by landfill or incineration and the waste will have a positive
monetary value.
The environment will benefit since there will be less waste materials and less virgin polymer required.
The successful conclusion of the project will lead to this technology going into widespread use for all kinds of waste
recognition not just for polymers but it could also be applied to many manufactured parts such as automobiles, electrical
goods, textiles. Hence to whole recycling industry where there is enough waste material to make a commercial case.
These labels could be develop for many materials, not just polymers. Therefore the environmental benefits of the
technology will be huge.
Organisations
Publications
Broxtermann M
(2017)
Cathodoluminescence and Photoluminescence of YPO 4 :Pr 3+ , Y 2 SiO 5 :Pr 3+ , YBO 3 :Pr 3+ , and YPO 4 :Bi 3+
in ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology
Den Engelsen D
(2018)
Reassignment of electronic transitions in the laser-activated spectrum of nanocrystalline Y2O3:Er3+
in Journal of Luminescence
Den Engelsen D
(2016)
Red Shift of CT-Band in Cubic Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ upon Increasing the Eu 3+ Concentration
in ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology
Den Engelsen D
(2016)
Photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence and micro-Raman investigations of monoclinic nanometre-sized Y 2 O 3 and Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+
in Journal of Materials Chemistry C
Den Engelsen D
(2016)
Ultraviolet and blue cathodoluminescence from cubic Y 2 O 3 and Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ generated in a transmission electron microscope
in Journal of Materials Chemistry C
Den Engelsen D
(2018)
Ultrathin Y2O3:Eu3+nanodiscs: spectroscopic investigations and evidence for reduced concentration quenching.
in Nanotechnology
Den Engelsen D
(2020)
Photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence of BaAl 2 O 4 :Eu 2+ and undoped BaAl 2 O 4 : evidence for F-centres
in Optical Materials Express
Engelsen D
(2018)
Cathodoluminescence of Y 2 O 3 :Ln 3+ (Ln = Tb, Er and Tm) and Y 2 O 3 :Bi 3+ nanocrystalline particles at 200 keV
in RSC Advances
Engelsen DD
(2017)
New Developments in Cathodoluminescence Spectroscopy for the Study of Luminescent Materials.
in Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
Description | We have already demonstrated the viability of the approach using field trials at one of the industrial partners trial polymer bottle recycling facilities. We have shown that organic fluorescent inks cannot be used as they fade in sunlight and even in indoor lighting. We identified problems because of other fluorescent materials that are present in the polymer bottles or on their labels interfering with the identifying fluorescent agents. We have identified ways this can be overcome and have a set of initial phosphors that are good candidate marker materials.Currently we are identifying the best and cheapest markers . We have taken a patent on some of our work. The consortium has demonstrated the success of the program to some large drinks companies. |
Exploitation Route | Members of our Innovate UK supported industrial collaborators are hoping to use the technology in the recycling of polymer bottles. Our paptent covers the use of long afterglow phosphors. These can be excited by blue light which means that workers do not need to be protected from UV leakage. In addition the work in this program has enhanced our knowledge on down converting phosphors and has helped our ideas towards the winning of two new Innovate UK programs:- Pesticide free global horticulture (via smart light controlling crop cover technology) (PURELIGHT), £246,293, TS/P006388/1, 1/April/2017-31/03/2020. File Ref: 132743, to Brunel University London Dr George Fern is PI and Prof Jack Silver is Co-ITotal project cost ~£1M Laser Lighting for Algae growth and Water for the World (LIGHTWAY), £246,053, TS/P006345/1, 1/April/2017-31/03/2020., File Ref: 132746 to Brunel University London Dr George Fern is PI and Prof. Jack Silver is Co-I., Total project cost ~£1M These programs have a number of UK companies in there consortiums so much of our phosphor knowledge will be applied for the benefit of UK Plc. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Other |
Description | The work on the project to date has been very positive and the consortium has been very encouraged by the results. To further test and possibly implement the findings one of our industrial partners are now changing their detector systems so that they can detect our phosphors. This year our partners showed that various phosphors we provided worked and could be detected. In the end the cost of the phosphor will be a factor. We have now taken a patent to cover the use of long-afterglow phosphors. Using the latter not only overcomes some of the problems encountered but also provides a safe work environment as they do not need UV excitation. In addition the work from this project has helped towards the winning of two new Innovate UK programs:- Pesticide free global horticulture (via smart light controlling crop cover technology) (PURELIGHT), £246,293, TS/P006388/1, 1/April/2017-31/03/2020. File Ref: 132743, to Brunel University London Dr George Fern is PI and Prof Jack Silver is Co-ITotal project cost ~£1M Laser Lighting for Algae growth and Water for the World (LIGHTWAY), £246,053, TS/P006345/1, 1/April/2017-31/03/2020., File Ref: 132746 to Brunel University London Dr George Fern is PI and Prof. Jack Silver is Co-I., Total project cost ~£1M. These programs will benefit the industrial companies that are involved with them directly and with them hopefully UK Plc. This work has contributed to the formation of the NEXTLOOPP (www.nextloopp.com) conosrtium with 36 international companies involved to date. This consortium comprises some of the PRISM project members who formed this initiative led by industry. Brunel University also have a NERC research project continuing this work and including developing the societal impact of this project. An article appeared in Materials World (volume 30 number 7/8 July/August pages 30 -32) Entitled Making the Grade written by Prof E. Kosier, Dr George Fern and others explaining the findings and aims of NEXTLOOP and PRISM. The article shows how the projects will be used in the future to help organisations to honour there commitments to increase the level of recycled material they usein their packaging. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Retail,Other |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | Providing the 30% recycled content for food packing (PFP): An integrated stakeholder approach to solving 'hard to recycle' plastic packaging |
Amount | £458,436 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/V010751/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2020 |
End | 10/2023 |
Title | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING ARTICLES WITH A LUMINESCENT MARKER FOR RECYCLING |
Description | The composition of articles can be identified using luminescent codes printed or coated onto the articles (or labels on the articles) by means of an ink which contains long persistence luminescent materials. Radiation is used to excite the luminescent materials and this is then extinguished before the article passes beneath a spectrometer. An infrared beam then strikes the article in order to stimulate emission from the long persistence luminescent materials, via a detrapping mechanism, and the spectrometer detects the emission in order to identify the article. |
IP Reference | US2020038915 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | Industry partners are actively pushing the technology in this area. |
Description | Electron Microscopy and materials characterisation, working with industry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Collaborating with industry: Electron Microscopy and materials characterisation, working with industry, George Fern, review of industry projects and outcomes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Webinar broadcast to promote the industrial backing for this project collaboration with industry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | To promote membership of the next stage of the PRISM IUK/EPSRC funded project, gain industrial backing to make the PRISM goal a reality (Asia/Pacific) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1uMPZ0XX8 |
Description | Webinar support to develop the NEXTLOOPP consortium to new industrial participants |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Dr George Fern part of the webinar broadcast: To promote membership of the next stage of the PRISM IUK/EPSRC funded project, gain industrial backing to make the PRISM goal a reality (UK/Europe) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U6NGvPMoLU |