Sensor based sorting consists of the separation of single particles on the basis
of identifiable material attributes that can be measured by suitable detectors. This
technique has revolutionized the design of mechanical treatment processes especially in
the field of dry waste separation systems. The complexity and the number of sensors are
the main determinative factors influencing the separation results. Today, newly
developed devices are often equipped with a combination of different sensors in order to
recognize multiple material properties in a single step, whereas, the sensor data are
evaluated in real-time by a computer system. As a consequence, these devices guarantee
excellent separation efficiencies in comparison with those having single sensors.
Additionally, the advancing development of new sensor systems makes new fields of
application in waste treatment accessible.
Keywords: Sensor sorting, Waste processing, Resource recovery, Selective
separation, Recycling.
