The technical objective of the research cooperation is the resource-management-optimised and environmentally sound material and energetic utilisation of insufficiently used waste fractions. This serves to conserve natural resources and to minimise waste disposal. The objective should be achieved by the reclamation and exploitation of recoverable metals in mixed waste fractions rich in composite materials (e.g. electronic scrap, shredder light fractions, fractions in the infrastructure inventory), while simultaneously exploiting the materials and/or energy of the plastic fraction of the waste. The utilization of coke, which accrues in the thermochemical treatment of the compound fraction, should be considered as well.
Material flow-orientated processing chains culminating in secondary raw materials, which can be reintroduced into the economic circuit, are to be developed using theoretical approaches and empirical experiments.
The research concept in the `RessourcenKolleg.NRW´ focuses the recovery of valuable secondary raw materials from mixed wastes, which have a variety of origins. In the first step, the metal and plastic material flows are considered in detail since these are of particular economic importance due to their quantities. Material flow-orientated processing chains culminating in secondary raw materials, which can be reintroduced into the economic circuit, are to be developed using theoretical approaches and empirical experiments.
Here, the approach draws on the experience available in the participating establishments and utilises the available infrastructure (including laboratories, pilot plants), as well as a comprehensive network, particularly with partner companies in the materials preparation technology and recycling management industries.