초록 ▼

A method of determining the constituents and impurities in mixed-color cullet to facilitate use of mixed-color cullet in glass manufacture is provided. A glass batch formulation is adjusted based on the measured characteristics of supplied mixed-color cullet. More specifically, certain preferred asp

A method of determining the constituents and impurities in mixed-color cullet to facilitate use of mixed-color cullet in glass manufacture is provided. A glass batch formulation is adjusted based on the measured characteristics of supplied mixed-color cullet. More specifically, certain preferred aspects of the present invention include the steps of providing quantity of mixed-color cullet, collecting at least one sample of the mixed-color cullet, performing, either singularly or in combination, particle size analysis, particle color analysis, or organics analysis of the mixed-color cullet, optionally storing the analysis results, determining a glass batch formulation, providing the cullet specification and the batch formulation to a glass manufacturer, and adjusting glass batch formulation based on the cullet specification to ensure consistent glass quality.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of adjusting a glass batch formulation for making glass using recycled mixed-color glass cullet as a raw material, comprising the steps of: collecting at least one sample from a quantity of mixed-color glass cullet; performing particle size analysis, on said sample;

What is claimed is: 1. A method of adjusting a glass batch formulation for making glass using recycled mixed-color glass cullet as a raw material, comprising the steps of: collecting at least one sample from a quantity of mixed-color glass cullet; performing particle size analysis, on said sample; and determining a glass batch adjustment formulation for said glass cullet quantity using a result from said particle size analysis. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing to a glass manufacturer said glass batch adjustment formulation, and a cullet specification for said mixed-color glass cullet. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a result of said particle size analysis comprises particle size compared to expected cumulative percent finer than (CPFT) data of said mixed-color glass cullet. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing particle color analysis on said sample, wherein a result of said particle color analysis comprises calculated weight percent per color data. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing organics impurities analysis on said sample, wherein a result of said organics impurities analysis comprises moisture loss data. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein a result of said organics impurities analysis comprises combustible organics loss data. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of utilizing a result from said particle size analysis as a quality control metric. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a result from said particle size analysis onto computer-readable media. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting said sample comprises the steps of: collecting at least one portion of cullet per unit time per said quantity of cullet; said at least one portion forming a composite volume of said cullet; and collecting at least one portion from said composite volume to form said sample. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said particle size analysis comprises performing sieve analysis. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said particle size analysis comprises performing optical imaging analysis. 12. The method of claim 4, wherein said particle color analysis comprises performing X-ray spectroscopy. 13. The method of claim 4, wherein said particle color analysis comprises performing optical transmission analysis. 14. The method of claim 4, wherein said particle color analysis comprises performing optical reflectivity analysis. 15. The method of claim 4, wherein said particle color analysis comprises: selecting at least one portion of the sample; characterizing the constituents of said portion by at least one of color and size; and calculating the weight percent of each color of said portion. 16. The method of claim 5, wherein the method of organic impurities analysis comprises determining the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of said sample. 17. The method of claim 5, wherein the method of organic impurities analysis comprises determining the loss on ignition (LOI) of said sample. 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of producing at least one recycled glass product using said quantity of mixed-color glass cullet in accordance with said glass batch adjustment formulation. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said recycled glass product is a beer bottle. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining the loss on ignition (LOI) comprises the steps of: heating a sample in a furnace to between about 100�� C. and about 120�� C.; weighing said sample; determining the moisture loss due to drying; heating said sample to between about 500�� C. and about 550�� C.; weighing said sample; and determining the combustible organic loss from ignition. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining LOI comprises heating said sample to at least about 500�� C. 22. The method of claim 5, wherein said organics impurities analysis measures to a resolution of at least about 0.10 grams per 2 kg of sample. 23. The method of claim 5, wherein said organic impurities analysis comprises performing an elutriation method. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the elutriation method comprises the steps of: air-floating at least a portion of said sample at a sufficient rate to separate at least one constituent of said sample; collecting the separated constituent; water-washing said portion at a sufficient temperature to separate at least one second constituent of said sample; collecting said separated second constituent; solvent-washing said portion to separate at least one third constituent of said sample; collecting said solvent washed second constituent; air-floating said portion at a sufficient rate to separate at least one fourth constituent of said sample; collecting said fourth constituent; and calculating the weight percent of all separated constituents. 25. A method of adjusting a glass batch formulation for making glass using recycled mixed-color glass cullet as a raw material, comprising the steps of: obtaining a result from a particle size analysis performed on at least one sample of mixed-color glass cullet; and determining a glass batch adjustment formulation for said mixed-color glass cullet using a result from said particle size analysis. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein a result of said particle size analysis comprises particle size of said mixed-color glass cullet compared to expected cumulative percent finer than (CPFT) data of said mixed-color glass cullet. 27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of performing particle color analysis on said sample, wherein a result of said particle color analysis comprises calculated weight percent per color data. 28. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of performing organics impurities analysis on said sample, wherein a result of said organics impurities analysis comprises moisture loss data. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein a result of said organics impurities analysis comprises combustible organics loss data. 30. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of utilizing a result from said particle size analysis as a quality control metric. 31. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of storing a result from said particle size analysis onto computer-readable media. 32. The method of claim 25, wherein collecting said sample comprises the steps of: collecting at least one portion of cullet per unit time per said quantity of cullet, said at least one portion forming a composite volume of said cullet; and collecting at least one portion from said composite volume to form said sample. 33. The method of claim 25, wherein said particle size analysis comprises performing sieve analysis. 34. The method of claim 25, wherein said particle size analysis comprises performing optical imaging analysis. 35. The method of claim 27, wherein said particle color analysis comprises performing X-ray spectroscopy. 36. The method of claim 27, wherein said particle color analysis comprises performing optical transmission analysis. 37. The method of claim 27, wherein said particle color analysis comprises performing optical reflectivity analysis. 38. The method of claim 27, wherein said particle color analysis comprises: selecting at least one portion of the sample; characterizing the constituents of said portion by at least one of color and size; and calculating the weight percent of each color of said portion. 39. The method of claim 28, wherein the method of organic impurities analysis comprises determining the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of said sample. 40. The method of claim 28, wherein the method of organic impurities analysis comprises determining the loss on ignition (LOI) of said sample. 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of determining the loss on ignition (LOI) comprises the steps of: heating a sample in a furnace to between about 100�� C. and about 120�� C.; weighing said sample; determining the moisture loss due to drying; heating said sample to between about 500�� C. and about 550�� C.; weighing said sample; and determining the combustible organic loss from ignition. 42. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of determining LOI comprises heating said sample to at least about 500�� C. 43. The method of claim 28, wherein said organics impurities analysis measures to a resolution of at least about 0.10 grams per 2 kg of sample. 44. The method of claim 28, wherein said organic impurities analysis comprises performing an elutriation method. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the elutriation method comprises the steps of: air-floating a portion of said sample at a sufficient rate to separate at least one constituent of said sample; collecting the separated constituent; water-washing said portion at a sufficient temperature to separate at least one second constituent of said sample; collecting said separated second constituent; solvent-washing said portion to separate at least one third constituent of said sample; collecting said solvent washed second constituent; air-floating said portion at a sufficient rate to separate at least one fourth constituent of said sample; collecting said fourth constituent; and calculating the weight percent of all separated constituents. 46. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of producing at least one recycled glass product using said quantity of mixed-color glass cullet in accordance with said glass batch adjustment formulation. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein said recycled glass product is a beer bottle.