The application of sensor-based sorting has especially revolutionised the processing of secondary raw materials. Hardly ever before, a new technology has led to such a complete realignment in process engineering as in this case in such a short time. In opposition to this, the application of sensor-based sorting still plays a rather minor role in the processing of primary raw materials like industrial minerals, salt and ores. However, there seems to be an upward trend. Especially in the processing of primary raw materials, the development of high-performance and specifically adjusted sensor-based sorting systems opens up many possibilities. During a multi-year project, a research cooperation, which has been initiated and chaired by Binder+Co AG, Gleisdorf, Austria – an innovative producer of processing machines and sensor-based sorters – dedicated itself to research material specific optical effects and new technologies, especially in optical sorting of waste glass and industrial minerals. The main cooperation partners in this project were the Chair of Mineral Processing at the Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Austria and the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry at the Graz University of Technology, Austria. The research project focused on exploring absorption properties in the visual and contiguous wavelength ranges (200 – 2500 nm) and UV-induced fluorescence. This dissertation gives an overview of research results obtained and technological developments evolved from the project. During extensive examinations and analyses optical differences were identified and successfully applied in the optical sorting, based on the state of art technology and an analysis of fields and limits of applications of color-based sorting, by using the UV wavelength range. The use of more than one specific optical characteristic in the mentioned wavelength range was crucial in the development of industrial sensors. The basis of this was a newly developed sensor fusion technology with complex and hierarchical combination of characteristics. The advantages for the processing technology by using the new sorting technology is described and discussed by means of planned or realized applications. In each case the sorting process is only one part of a complete economic solution. The pre-conditioning of the raw material plays – as in typical separation processes – a decisive role. The research results have had an impact on the validity and research process at Binder+Co AG in a sustainable manner.