SBIR/STTR Phase I: A New Technology for Rapid Identification of Aluminum Metals

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will determine the technical feasibility for applying a new innovative sensing technology to rapidly identify and sort aluminum metals from other non-magnetic metals such as copper, zinc, nickel, and non-magnetic stainless steels commonly found in scrap metals, particularly metals derived from automobile shredder facilities. The objective will be to develop an environmentally friendly computerized dry process which can be situated locally and which can rapidly and cleanly sort aluminum scrap from mixtures of nonmagnetic metals at low cost. This technology will replace the large, costly, and environmentally burdensome heavy media process that is current used. The commercial applications for this technology will be sorting of aluminum from automobile shredders. This technology will significantly reduce the environmental impact of sending these materials to landfills. The materials recovered can be recycled and sold back to industry.