LIBS Spectrometers from Avantes aims to enhance aluminium recycling & boost circular economy

The global demand for aluminium is rising, and industries must boost production while pursuing greater sustainability. Aluminium recycling involves complex challenges, such as efficient alloy sorting and maintaining the quality and purity of recycled materials.

In order to meet the rising demand in line with sustainability or a circular economy, it is very important to implement technologies like Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), which ensures accurate sorting of aluminium alloys while keeping the quality of recycled materials intact.

LIBS has emerged as a transformative technology, offering solutions to these critical issues. Material recovery facilities (MRFs) must process large volumes of aluminium scrap while accurately identifying and separating different metal grades. Traditional methods often fall short, resulting in inefficiencies and compromised quality.

About Avantes

Avantes, a leading provider of advanced spectrometers, specialises in aluminium recycling processes. With decades of experience and a commitment to innovation, Avantes offers a range of spectrometer solutions designed to optimise recycling operations and contribute to a sustainable circular economy.

Avantes' advanced spectrometers, equipped with LIBS technology, offer a comprehensive solution to these challenges. LIBS technology enables rapid chemical analysis of metals through a multi-step process. A laser pulse is directed at the material's surface, heating it to thousands of degrees and creating localised plasma. As the plasma cools, it emits visible and invisible light, which is detected and analysed by a spectrometer to determine the metal's elemental composition.

The efficiency of LIBS technology enables in-line sorting capabilities, and Avantes' compact spectrometers allow recycling facilities to achieve a high degree of precision in identifying and segregating aluminium alloys. This streamlines operations and enhances the overall efficiency of MRFs, paving the way for optimised recycling processes.

Advantages of Avantes Spectrometers

Avantes' spectrometers stand out due to their unique features tailored to the specific needs of aluminium recycling. These features include:

• Avantes' spectrometers enable real-time, in-line sorting of aluminium alloys, ensuring the accurate classification and separation of distinct aluminium grades for downstream processing.
• Automating the identification and sorting of aluminium scrap with spectrometers significantly boosts efficiency in Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). This technology reduces manual labour and substantially increases throughput.
• By incorporating Avantes' spectrometers, recycling facilities can ensure the purity and quality of recycled aluminium, meeting stringent industry standards and minimising waste in the production of new aluminium products.
• Avantes' spectrometers operate at high speeds, providing rapid and precise measurements that are essential for maintaining optimal throughput in recycling plants.
• Avantes' spectrometers offer excellent resolution, allowing for the precise identification and characterisation of distinct aluminium alloys based on their spectral signatures.
• Avantes' spectrometers are engineered for seamless integration into the continuous 24/7 workflows of recycling plants. They feature robust communication protocols and versatile data acquisition interfaces.

Avantes' commitment to excellence

Developing an effective and efficient aluminium recycling system is crucial for a sustainable circular economy. Recycled aluminium has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to primary aluminium production, using approximately 5 per cent of the energy required and providing cost-saving benefits for businesses.

By incorporating LIBS technology, Avantes' spectrometers enable precise alloy sorting, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure the quality of recycled materials. This advancement allows Avantes to make significant strides in promoting sustainability within the aluminium recycling industry, contributing to a more sustainable circular economy.

Avantes is dedicated to advancing aluminium recycling through innovation and excellence. With its cutting-edge spectrometers, which use LIBS technology, Avantes is proud to collaborate in advancing the industry towards global objectives of environmental stewardship and economic sustainability. By refining the recycling process one aluminium alloy at a time, Avantes is paving the way for a more sustainable and circular economy.