Using photonics to recover critical materials from automotive shredder residue and similar mixed plastic waste

Abstract

Waste feed material, such as Automotive Shredder Residue (ASR) feed material, that includes hydrocarbon materials and inorganic materials is processed using photolysis. A reactor includes a chamber that receives waste feed material including a majority of hydrocarbon material after the substantial removal of inorganic material including metals and minerals. A photonic illumination or photolysis module irradiates the feed material within the chamber of the reactor to decompose the hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon materials within the waste feed material into gases and/or carbonaceous solids. A mechanical movement unit moves the waste feed material within the chamber of the reactor to facilitate exposure of different portions of the feed material to irradiation within the chamber during system operation. A pre-treatment module substantially removes the contained metals and minerals in the waste material from the hydrocarbon material fed to the reactor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.