Patent Application
20110024332
The present invention is related to the use of a taggant for identifying a source material in a waste product that is recycled.
It is well known to use taggants for the purpose of identifying products and more specifically in the security field to monitor products to detect counterfeiting or to prevent or assist in preventing theft.
In this connection, US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0166520 to Connolly proposes the use of DNA inter alia for the purpose set forth above but in a particular manner that allows swift identification in contrast to other systems which require lengthy analysis.
The recycling of spent materials, namely those used particularly in the packaging of foodstuffs and other retail goods, is widespread and in some jurisdictions mandatory in order to reduce the needless wastage of materials such as plastics, metals, etc.
One of the problems associated with recycling is the present inability to provide a qualitative identification regime enabling focused separation and selectivity of the waste products for efficient and cost effective recycling. Some plastics materials are discarded at a relatively high rate simply because the identification of useful elements in the waste products is inadequate thus resulting in a negative saving realization.
For example, there is no such qualitative identification system for consumers and recyclers to ensure the recyclability of #1 PETE, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved recycling method providing a reliable regime for identifying useful recoverable materials for beneficial and cost effective recycling.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved identification system for basic materials thereby enabling their recovery and recylability in a focused or selective manner.
An advantage of the present invention is that specific materials can be provided with a readily detectable taggant thus facilitating the separation thereof from other waste materials, for a more efficient focused green recycling thereof.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the seeding of the material provides an identifiable signature detectable by means of a specially designed detector.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for selectively recycling a specific material to its originating source, the specific material being seeded with a traceable taggant conferring an identifiable signature on the material for use and disposal thereof by recycling, said method comprising the steps of:
In one embodiment, the step of identifying the spent article includes the steps of:
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for selectively recycling a specific material to its originating source said method comprising the steps of:
In one embodiment, the step of manufacturing an article includes the steps of:
Conveniently, the step of identifying the packaging an article includes the steps of:
The specific material is preferably seeded with traceable DNA, and conveniently the DNA is uniquely applied as at least one marker to the material thus affording ease of identification in the final steps of the recycling method.
The detector employed in the identification stage may be a laser beam and the DNA marker(s) may be so designed as to absorb or reflect the beam thus giving a positive indication of its source identity.
It will be understood that other kinds of detectors may be deployed for the identification of the DNA marker(s).
The specific material may be PETE, but may be any other material capable as a receptor of DNA marking.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawing.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following figure in which:
With reference to the annexed drawing the preferred method of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation.
Referring now to the accompanying flow chart in
Then, the method further includes Step 3 of identifying the spent article having the specific material with the traceable taggant for separation thereof and recycling of the specific material. A recycling facility is depicted at Step 31 with a detector, for a laser beam detector or the like, scanning the waste or spent material for the DNA signature. Waste material displaying the signature as identified by the detector is then returned in Step 32 to the originating source for recycling to produce fresh PETE in Step 33 with Step 34 showing a roll of such fresh PETE with the DNA marking seeded therein, and therefore complete the selective recycling loop cycle.
The present invention provides a selective recycling method that allows for sustainable and cost effective recovery of specific materials, in which only Step 3 above could be considered as an alternative, as long as the material used has a specific taggant therein, or a pre-determined combination thereof, as above-described.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 61/213,948, filed on Jul. 31, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61213948 | Jul 2009 | US |
