Abstract: Small particles are separated from a mixture of particles by passing mixture through a separating chamber having upper and lower plates. The plates are connected to a potential source to establish an electric field therebetween. The particles coming in contact with the lower plate become charged and are repelled upwardly toward the upper plate. Larger particles fall under the influence of gravity back to the lower plate, while the smaller particles are repelled sufficiently close to the upper plate to be attracted thereby and thereby travel a greater vertical distance than the larger particles. A plurality of tubes extend through the lower plate and terminate a predetermined distance from the upper plate to form passageways extending from the field between the plates outwardly through the bottom plate. The smaller particles, having traveled a greater vertical distance, may then be expelled in their downward travel through the passageways.