High Performance Recycling of Polymers by Means of Their Fluorescence Lifetimes*

Heinz  Langhals; Dominik  Zgela; Thorben  Schlücker

doi:10.4236/gsc.2014.43019

Heinz Langhals^*, Dominik Zgela, Thorben Schlücker

Abstract: Technical polymers could be identified by means of their remarkably strong auto fluorescence. The time constants of this fluorescence proved to be characteristic for the individual polymers and can be economically determined by integrating procedures. The thus obtained unequivocal identification is presented for their sorting for recycling. Furthermore, polymeric materials were doped with fluorescent dyes allowing a fine-classification of special batches.

Keywords: Recycling, Polymers, Fluorescence Lifetime, Labelling, Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Cite this paper: Langhals, H. , Zgela, D. and Schlücker, T. (2014) High Performance Recycling of Polymers by Means of Their Fluorescence Lifetimes*. Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 4, 144-150. doi: 10.4236/gsc.2014.43019.

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