TITECH x-tract

Cutting edge X-ray sensors empower the TITECH x-tract for special sorting tasks. [XRT] Measures the atomic density irrespective of surfaces, eg in mixed municipal waste sorting. [XRF] Analyses the elemental composition of metals, eg in copper meatball sorting from ferrous scrap.

X-ray sorting

Using high-resolution X-ray transmission image processing, X-ray sorting machines use dry-mechanic techniques to separate materials and waste streams based on specific atomic density. This innovation opens new frontiers in efficient processing of recovered valuable materials.

There are two main technologies used in X-ray sorting. The newest is XRF technology, in which waste materials passes beneath X-ray sorting scanners, and X-rays are beamed out onto oncoming waste material. These X-rays are absorbed by the product, and read by the X-ray sorting machine. Different absorption levels occur for different materials; for example, waste materials that are thick or dense such as brick or stones, have a higher absorption rate.

Using the XRT technology, the TITECH x-tract identifies contents in the sorting material independent of their colour and pollution. With X-ray sorting technology, the TITECH x-tract can separate substances on the basis of their atomic density and is so able to separate material concentrates into different material types.

Ferrous scrap, organic waste and other input streams can all be sorted using this X-ray sorting technology, and any heavy-metal fractions generated by X-ray sorting can be further separated by different colours in order to achieve even better results.

TITECH XRF technology

For the first time, X-ray fluorescence allows the detection of existing elements in particles. The material will be excited by low-energy X-ray radiation and element specific fluorescence will be released. With an energy dispersive X-ray sensor this fluorescence can be measured. The data will be processed and information about presence of elements and their concentration are the result. This information is combined with additional data from an EM sensor using SUPPIXX® to identify the position and size of the object – and a set of valves eject it precisely.

TITECH XRT technology

TITECH x-tract [XRT] uses an electric X-ray source which creates a broad-band radiation.  This radiation penetrates the segregation material and, when attenuated, hits an X-ray camera with DUOLINE® sensor using two independent sensor lines with different spectral sensitivity. The data supplied by this camera is classified using TITECH high speed x-ray processing. So the atomic density of the materials can be identified and this is largely accomplished regardless of the material thickness.

Example // Meatball sorting from ferrous scrap

About 40 % of the steel production worldwide is made from recycled ferrous scrap. But only steel scrap that meets the required specifications (e. g. type E40 with less than 0.20 % copper content) may enter the steel production process as secondary resource. Used cars are for example full of free copper contents such as copper coils or electro motors, so-called meatballs or anchors. TITECH’s x-tract system [XRF] uses X-ray fluorescence sensors to detect copper and other impurities by their atomic characteristics and ejects them from ferrous metals. This secures a high purity in connection with minimal material loss. In addition the expensive and risky manual sorting can be reduced to a minimum.