How can we reduce European resource use drastically? Examples for Factor X reduction in resource use in Europe

Modern metallic high-performance materials are characterized by alloy components which are in precise proportion to one another. In order to be able to increase the proportion of recycled material in these compounds, it is necessary to be able to exactly ascertain the alloy composition of the scrap content. Coatings of lacquer or metals make the analysis more difficult, since they cannot be penetrated with conventional analysis procedures. Here, a combination of two laser technology procedures can help: laser spectroscopy and laser ablation.

Laser spectroscopy enables the recognition of materials on the basis of their distinct optical spectrum. This “fingerprint made of light”, the laser-induced plasma spectroscopy, (LIBS) is used by the company PROASSORT GmbH of Werdohl to precisely analyze the alloy compositions of scrap metals. In order to do this it is essential that the measurement range be previously cleaned, and any coatings removed. The laser ablation does exactly that. For the development of this laser technology for the cleaning of outer surfaces, the Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH, Herzogenrath, was awarded the 2010 DBU German Environmental Prize.

Procedure successfully tested

The process known as COLA (Collaboration Of LIBS and Laser Ablation), which has already been successfully tested in laboratory scale, is currently being realized as a prototype, to be subsequently tested under realistic operating conditions and further developed. There is great potential: from the automobile and aviation industries to waste incineration plants, scrap metal accumulates in vast amounts. With 100 COLA facilities, annual savings of around 1.1 million tons of CO₂ could be realized. This corresponds approximately to the annual CO₂ emissions of the city of Ulm.

This project was funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU). Read more: https://www.dbu.de/123artikel36775_2430.html

Foto: Proassort GmbH