PET flake optical sorting machine for recycling sorting industry

The recycling industry has evolved significantly in recent years, driven by the need to reduce waste and recycle valuable materials more efficiently. Among the many types of materials being recycled, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) stands out as one of the most common and valuable plastics. PET is used widely in consumer packaging, especially in bottles and containers. However, the challenge of sorting mixed waste streams has prompted the development of specialized optical sorting machines that are capable of identifying, separating, and purifying PET flakes from other materials. These machines use advanced technologies, including color sorting, UV sorting, and infrared (IR) sorting, to ensure that only the highest-quality PET reaches the recycling process.

PET Color Sorting Machines

Color sorting is one of the simplest yet most effective forms of optical sorting. PET plastics come in various colors, such as clear, blue, green, and other shades. Color sorting machines use advanced cameras and light sensors to distinguish between different colors of PET flakes. For example, clear PET is valuable for many high-quality recycling processes, while colored PET, especially when mixed with clear PET, can lower the value of the recycled product.

• How it works: The system captures the color of each PET flake passing through the sorter and compares it to a pre-set range of acceptable colors. If a PET flake is identified as a color that should be separated (e.g., blue or green), it is ejected from the main material stream using air jets or mechanical actuators.
• Applications: Color sorting is especially useful for separating clear PET from colored PET, ensuring that only clean, high-quality PET is used in further processing. It can also help remove other colored contaminants, such as labels or caps that may be part of the waste stream.

UV Sorting Machines for aged PET

When PET materials age—whether due to prolonged exposure to sunlight, heat, or environmental factors—they can degrade in quality. This degradation often results in a material that is no longer ideal for high-value applications like food-grade packaging or textiles. The challenge lies in identifying and removing aging PET from a mixed recycling stream while efficiently sorting out other contaminants.UV sorters utilize ultraviolet (UV) light to detect these aging effects, as degraded PET exhibits distinct fluorescence patterns under UV exposure. By efficiently sorting out aged PET, UV sorters ensure that only high-quality, non-degraded PET remains in the recycling process, improving the purity of recycled PET (rPET) and making it suitable for high-value applications, such as food-grade packaging and textiles. This technology enhances the overall efficiency of PET recycling, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy.

• How it works: A UV light source is used to shine ultraviolet light onto the materials. Different plastics will absorb and re-emit UV light in different ways, creating a unique “signature.” The sorter then uses this signature to distinguish PET from other materials that do not fluoresce under UV light.
• Applications: UV sorters are particularly effective for identifying and removing contaminants that do not exhibit visible color differences from PET, such as certain types of packaging films, paper, or low-grade plastics. This enhances the purity of the PET flakes, improving the quality of the recycled material.

Infrared Optical Sorters (NIR Sorters)-Polymer Sorter

Near-Infrared (NIR) sorting is one of the most advanced and widely used optical sorting technologies in the recycling industry, especially for plastics like PET. NIR sorters rely on the unique chemical composition of materials to identify and separate them based on their infrared absorption properties. PET, like other plastics, absorbs and reflects infrared light in specific ways, allowing for highly accurate identification and separation,especially for PVC contamination removal.

• How it works: The material stream passes under an NIR sensor that emits infrared light. The PET flakes and other materials reflect or absorb this light in specific ways. The NIR sorter captures the reflected light and analyzes the wavelength and intensity to identify the material type. If the system identifies a flake as PET, it is retained, while other materials (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or contaminants) are rejected.
• Applications: NIR sorters are widely used for polymer identification in mixed plastic waste streams. They can quickly differentiate PET from other materials, such as polyethylene or polystyrene, and eject non-PET materials using air jets. NIR is also effective at sorting PET from other types of plastic that might look similar under visible light but have different chemical structures.
• Besides,infrared sorters can differentiate between a wide variety of plastics, including PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, and PS, based on their unique infrared signatures. This level of accuracy ensures that recyclables are properly sorted and contaminants are minimized.

Product Features for GI Series (Polymer Sorter)

1. Advanced Sorting Capabilities

• Combines NIR technology with a high-precision multi-spectral infrared camera for simultaneous color and polymer type sorting.
• Identifies and separates non-PET materials from PET flakes, including PVC, PC, HDPE, PP, ABS-FR, PS, PA, POM, PMMA, PLA, non-ferrous metals, aluminum flakes, wood, rubber, and silicone impurities.

2. High-End Recycling Focus

• Purifies high-end PET flakes to ensure top-quality recycling.
• Effective in processing PET powder and removing materials like PPSU, TRITAN, PET-G low-temperature materials, opaque particles, and other impurities.

3. Enhanced Throughput and Efficiency

• Features a wide chute, multi-stage feeding system, and anti-blocking material design.
• Ensures high throughput for long-term unmanned operation and reliable production.

4. Exceptional Accuracy

• High-speed sensors and chips enable sorting accuracy rates as high as 99%.
• Capable of normal sorting, reverse sorting, single sorting, re-sorting, and multi-time sorting for maximum adaptability.

5. All-in-One Sorting Machine

• Incorporates a maintenance-free light source cooling system and a long-life infrared light source.
• Enables sorting based on both color and material properties in a single machine.

6. Wide Material Compatibility

• Supports a broad range of plastics, including PET, HDPE, PP, PVC, PC, PMMA, ABS-FR, and alloys.
• Can purify single-material products floating in brine (salt) solutions, addressing diverse recycling needs.

7. Flexible Support for Custom Applications

• Offers configurable sorting options to meet unique production requirements.
• Adapts to varied feed conditions and ensures energy-efficient operations.

This GI Series product is ideal for industries aiming to achieve high purity in recycled plastics, maximize cost-effectiveness, and reduce waste in polymer sorting applications.

For a visual demonstration of the GI capabilities, you can watch the following video: