Researchers at the University at Buffalo (UB), USA, have developed a groundbreaking method to distinguish recycled from virgin plastics in packaging, benefiting companies, regulatory agencies, and organizations. This innovative approach integrates advanced scientific testing with artificial intelligence (AI) to effectively monitor plastic recycling efforts. Amit Goyal, a professor at UB, emphasizes their objective to create a reliable tool for verifying recycled material content, thereby enhancing product quality and reducing plastic waste to foster a circular economy. The method employs four key sensing techniques: triboelectric testing, dielectric/impedance spectroscopy, capacitance analysis, and mid-infrared spectroscopy, which identify subtle differences in plastic chemistry. Using machine learning, the researchers achieved over 97% accuracy in assessing recycled content within PET samples. This portable device aims to enable real-time monitoring of recycled plastics, addressing rising consumer demand and regulatory pressures for sustainable packaging, as highlighted by recent European Commission measures supporting recycled materials.
Source link
Share
Read more