ECWALI-Circular Economy in Wallonia: Aluminum Alloys and Stainless Steels

ECWALI focuses on the specific sorting of aluminium and stainless steel alloys in order to increase the added value of the products obtained. Indeed, the aluminium and stainless steel sorted by MULTIPICK, or by other sorting systems in place at non-ferrous metal recyclers, are mixtures of different grades of alloys generally remelted for low-end applications. The sorting of specific alloys will provide economic and environmental added value. Indeed, the environmental gain generated by the recycling of alloy elements (Cu, Si, Mg, Mo, Cr, Ni) in their original functionality via a shorter process and circuit is important.
The aim of the ECWALI project is therefore the integration and industrialisation, on the MULTIPICK line in place at Comet, of LIBS and XRF analytical sensors and data processing algorithms. The latter will exploit, on the one hand, multi-sensor 3D, hyperspectral, XRT, XRF and LIBS data and, on the other hand, the most recent developments in artificial intelligence (Deep Learning) with the aim of sorting aluminium and stainless steel alloys with a view to maximising the added value and environmental gain of sorting these flows.

Partners: Comet Traitement with Aperam , Citius Engineering , Centre de
Metallurgy Research Centre, Marichal Ketin , Reverse Metallurgy, Université
Université Catholique de Louvain ISE, Université de Liege Centre Spatial de Liège, Université de Liege GeMMe and University of Liege PEP