Abstract: Manganese dry cells sorted out of used-up dry cells are crushed and sieved to obtain a mixture composed predominantly of anodic substances, which is in turn used for ferrite production. The invention is preferable for a saving of resources and preservation of the environment, and enables ferrites on a practical-enough level to be obtained.

Abstract: In a process for the recovery of silver by flotation from the residue from the wet extraction of zinc, the residue from the neutral wet extraction of zinc, the residue from the neutral wet extraction of zinc is recovered and is subsequently ground in an attritor and the residue which has been ground in an attritor is subjected to a flotation.

Abstract: Minerals can be recovered by flotation from non-sulfidic ores by using detergent mixtures containing:a) salts of sulfonation products of unsaturated fatty acids corresponding formula (I):R.sup.1 C(O)--OH (I)in which R.sup.1 CO is a linear or branched aliphatic acyl radical containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms and 1 to 5 double bonds, andb) salts of sulfonation products of unsaturated fatty acid glycerol esters corresponding to formula (II): ##STR1## in which R.sup.2 C(O) is a linear or branched aliphatic acyl radical containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms and 1 to 5 double bonds and R.sup.3 C(O) and R.sup.4 C(O) independently of one another represent a linear or branched aliphatic acyl radical containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms and 0 or 1 to 5 double bonds,and, optionally, other anionic and/or nonionic surfactants, as collectors.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a method and apparatus for removing contaminants from soil is provided. The invention comprises a classifier to separate oversized particles within the soil, a solid and liquid mixer to mix the soil and an added liquid, an agitator to fully mix the soil and liquid into a substantially homogeneous mixture, a separator wherein the soil and liquid are separated such that the contaminants float to the surface of the liquid, and a dryer wherein remaining excess liquid is removed from the substantially decontaminated soil. A material bin receives the oversized classified particles and a crusher/roller is provided to reduce the oversized material and return it to the classifier. The added liquid may include various chemicals to enhance the separability of the soil and contaminates. The solid and liquid mixer, agitator and separator may comprise of a number of sequential containers whereby separation is accomplished in a number of steps.

Abstract: A method of recovering individual material components such as metal, plastic and, where applicable, paper or cardboard, from waste of laminated packaging material comprising layers of metal, plastic and possibly paper or cardboard. The layers of metal and plastic are separated from each other and from the possibly present paper or cardboard layer by treating the waste with an organic acid or a mixture of organic acids selected from among formic acid, acetic acid, propanoic acid, butyric acid and similar volatile organic acids, preferably acetic acid alone.

Abstract: There is described a process for the isolation of a fine mineral product from a low-grade source of the said mineral, the process comprising the following steps:(i) forming a suspension in water of the said mineral source;(ii) subjecting the suspension to grinding with a grinding medium having a specific gravity not greater than 2.0, the amount of energy dissipated in the suspension during the grinding operation being not greater than 50 kW.hrs per tonne of the dry mineral source; and(iii) isolating from the ground suspension a fine fraction of particles comprising an increased amount of the said mineral when compared with the same fraction isolated from the unground mineral source.

Abstract: A method is described for processing waste materials in the form of filter rods, filter cigarettes and the like comprising filter material with inner hollow volumes accessible from the outside and at least one other material component, in particular paper and tobacco, wherein the following process steps are carried out: the waste material is distributed in a liquid in a pressure vessel. By increasing the pressure or decreasing the temperature an inert gas is dissolved in the liquid. Subsequently the temperature is increased or the pressure decreased so that fine gas bubbles develop within the filter material which permits the latter to float whereby a separation from the further material components to be separated is possible. With this method a separation of the waste material into its individual component parts is possible so that for example valuable filter material in the form of cellulose acetate is obtained in highly pure form and can be used again for the production of filter materials.

Abstract: A method of producing bamboo fibers comprese a first step of crushing bamboo in the direction of growth thereof by a rolling machine; a second step of fiberizing the crushed bamboo, obtained in the first step, by a hammer-mill-type grinding machine; and a third step of separating an inner thin skin portion of the bamboo, mixed in with the bamboo fibers obtained in the second step, from the bamboo fibers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating paper fiber from mixed waste materials which contain one or more sources of paper fiber in order to obtain substantially pure paper fiber which can be recycled to high grade end uses is disclosed. In addition, the process and apparatus separates plastic with or without metal in order to obtain substantially pure plastic which can be recycled to high grade end uses.

Abstract: In a process of treating waste materials for an anaerobic digestion of the biogenic organic constituents of the garbage, particularly of the source separated organic waste, the wet waste, the residual waste and the commercial wastes, an easily dewaterable suspension of the biogenic organic substances is formed in a pretreating stage by a mechanical treatment including a selective dissolution and defibration of the biogenic organic substances. In dependence on the adjusted solids concentration the action of flow-dynamical forces is so controlled that the not biogenic organic substances, are not subjected to an appreciable disintegration before they are removed at the end of the pretreatment. Non-digestable substances are removed. The suspension is converted to biogas by an anaerobic digestion and to a compost-like residue.

Abstract: Waste material, consisting of collected nickel-cadmium or nickel-hydride cells, after a preliminary reduction in size, is subjected to a subsequent grinding reduction in size and is then screened. The screen coarse fraction (G) is separated into a light fraction (L) and a heavy fraction (H) by means of an air separation, and the later fraction (H) is magnetically separated. The light fraction (L) and the non-magnetic portion (HN) are dried and screened in order to free the non-metallic components (P,PPW) from the predominantly metallic fine portion (S) and so that they can be divided out as a harmless product. The magnetic portion (HM) is mechanically scoured (8) and possibly washed, whereby one obtains a smeltable Ni--Fe mixture. The screen fine fraction (F) and the fine portion (S) resulting from the processing of the coarse fraction (G) are dissolved in thinned acid (HCL).

Abstract: A targeted particulate, synthetic organic plastic material having normally hydrophobic surface characteristics is separated from a mixture of two or more of such plastic materials by conditioning the mixture of plastic materials in a flotation cell with a heteropolar surfactant which has a hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value greater than 5 and which selectively depresses the targeted plastic material by making the surfaces thereof more hydrophilic without substantially affecting the surfaces of the other plastic material(s) and introducing gas bubbles into the resulting conditioned pulp such that the gas bubbles selectively adhere to the surfaces of the other plastic materials(s) and cause them to float. The targeted plastic material is recovered in the cell product and the other plastic material(s) is recovered in the float concentrate.

Abstract: A continuous process for reclaiming plastic scrap is disclosed. The process is particularly suited to reclaiming blow molded plastic containers which are contaminated with affixed paper or plastic film product labels, and soil, food, or motor oil wastes. The process is continuous and positively conveys materials through auger-like apparatus within a closed system.

Abstract: A separator for separator a paper ply from a polymer or other ply of heterogeneous, multi-ply packaging materials subjects the packaging materials to high pressure liquid delivered from a plurality of rotating nozzles. The packaging material is delivered into the chamber from a pre-wetting or soaking station. The nozzles in the chamber separate the paper from the polymer and reduces the paper to fibers. The polymer is skimmed off the top of the chamber in which the material is treated. The water and pulp are delivered to a settling tank where the paper fibers settle and water is removed. The remaining liquid and the paper fibers are delivered to a centrifugal screw where the remaining water is removed from the paper.

Abstract: Food and other contents of non-metallic containers are recovered from the containers by cutting the container bodies into fragments, advancing along a vibrating conveyor section through a liquid spray while simultaneously tumbling the fragments and the contents, continuing to advance the fragments and contents across strainer sections in the conveyor section to remove at least a part of the contents, lifting the fragments off of the conveyor section and advancing along a separate path of travel away from the conveyor section for collection together with any fragments and food contents remaining on the conveyor section after passing over the strainer sections. In converting food contents into usable food or feed values, the contents recovered through the strainer sections may be dried to reduce their moisture level either by mechanical dehydration or the addition of bulking agents, or both, and may be advanced through an extruder to convert the dried food contents into a complete ration.

Abstract: Fine particle coal is beneficiated in specially designed dense medium cyclones to improve particle acceleration and enhance separation efficiency. Raw coal feed is first sized to remove fine coal particles. The coarse fraction is then separated into clean coal, middlings, and refuse. Middlings are comminuted for beneficiation with the fine fraction. The fine fraction is deslimed in a countercurrent cyclone circuit and then separated as multiple fractions of different size specifications in dense medium cyclones. The dense medium contains ultra-fine magnetite particles of a narrow size distribution which aid separation and improves magnetite recovery. Magnetite is recovered from each separated fraction independently, with non-magnetic effluent water from one fraction diluting feed to a smaller-size fraction, and improving both overall coal and magnetite recovery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling asphalt based roofing material which typically comprises a body of asphalt and fiber, with aggregate on and adhered to the asphalt. The asphalt bodies, with aggregate, are subjected to action to separate or disengage the aggregate from the asphalt body without substantially reducing the size of the aggregate. Disengagement is effected by causing asphalt bodies with aggregate to impact on each other. Disengagement may be effected by placing asphalt bodies with aggregate in water to form in a slurry, which is agitated, as by an impeller. The asphalt bodies float to the top of the liquid, which is a non-solvent for asphalt, and are removed and dewatered; the aggregate of undiminished size is separately recovered.

Abstract: A method for recovering elastomeric material such as rubber from tires comprising the steps of soaking the tires in a mixture of liquids in tanks which soften the rubber, subjecting the softened tires to shear conditions in the rubber, and recovering the rubber and drying it in a drier. In this method grinding of the tire is not required. The recovered dried rubber can be carbonized in a microwave chamber to form a substitute for products such as carbon black formed by burning fossil fuels. A screw conveyor provides the preferred means to remove the softened rubber by a shearing action.

Abstract: A method for recycling of coated glass, especially for reuse in a glass melt, comprises the steps of crushing the glass; transferring the crushed glass into a mixing unit; mixing the crushed glass for a predetermined time period; during the mixing step, adding liquid to the crushed glass and cleaning the crushed glass with the liquid; and removing the cleaned crushed glass from the mixing unit. The method is especially useful for recycling cathode-ray tubes.

Abstract: Fine particle coal is beneficiated in specially designed dense medium cyclones to improve particle acceleration and enhance separation efficiency. Raw coal feed is first sized to remove fine coal particles. The coarse fraction is then separated into clean coal, middlings, and refuse. Middlings are comminuted for beneficiation with the fine fraction. The fine fraction is deslimed in a countercurrent cyclone circuit and then separated as multiple fractions of different size specifications in dense medium cyclones. The dense medium contains ultra-fine magnetite particles of a narrow size distribution which aid separation and improves magnetite recovery. Magnetite is recovered from each separated fraction independently, with non-magnetic effluent water from one fraction diluting feed to a smaller-size fraction, and improving both overall coal and magnetite recovery.

Abstract: A concrete reclaimer includes a concrete processor having a rotating inclined screen and a pipe discharging water. Fresh concrete being disposed is poured into an open end of the rotating screen, and migrates toward the opposite open end. The concrete passes over a fine mesh and then a coarse mesh screen, washing out cement slurry when passing over the former, and removing sand when passing over the latter. Gravel is discharged from the remaining screen open end. Specially configured nozzles are arranged in a particular pattern along the pipe. Collection and storage pits are provided for the resultant segregated cement slurry, sand, and gravel. In a preferred embodiment, a concrete processor includes a five horsepower pump and a ten horsepower screen rotation motor.

Abstract: The described invention relates to the processing of iron ore, particularly taconite ore. In particular, the invention relates to the separation of the iron containing component from the silicious and other gangue components such as phosphorus compounds in low grade iron ore. Typically, the separation is accomplished by a flotation process to remove the gangue to recover the iron component.

Abstract: A process for the purification of soil contaminated with organic material is provided. The preferred process generally involves superposed attrition and classification processes, which lead to removal and concentration of highly contaminated fractions. The process may also include a step of flotation whereby hydrophobic materials in the soil are released to an interface with air bubbles, and are floated to the top of a flotation cell. In preferred processes according to the present invention, soil to be treated is extracted from a contaminated site, and is broken into relatively small particles. These particles are preferably treated in attrition and classification steps, to remove fine, slow settling contaminated materials such as wood and fine soil materials. The resulting isolated coarser materials are then treated by flotation for a final polishing step.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for treating waste, such as domestic garbage, industrial waste and the like, in which the waste is suspended in a liquid such as to obtain a slurry or a pulp. The constituents of the pulp or slurry are separated into different fractions in accordance with their density and/or magnetic properties or like features. Subsequent to having sorted (18, 24, 26) and removed objects from the pulp or slurry, the pulp or slurry is fed to a wet dryer (32) in which the pulp or slurry is kneaded. As a result, the composite material is separated into its respective constituents; for instance, plastic coatings are separated from their respective substrates, such as paper. The pulp or slurry is washed (36) downstream of the wet grinder (32), in order to remove plastic debris (40). The thus obtained fibre suspension is then led away for further treatment (44) or use. When producting the waste/liquid suspension, the suspension is heated to a temperature of at least 60.degree. C.

Abstract: Due to ever-increasing waste production and ever-dwindling landfill space, alternatives to throwing away disposable diapers is needed. The present invention relates generally to a recycling process for reclaiming used paper and plastic materials. The process comprises a first step of shredding the used disposable diapers into small pieces, which facilitates the separation of the plastics from the pulp-like filler material. The shredded matter is then washed in a solution comprising water containing various ecologically-safe cleaning agents, as well as calcium chloride and salt to neutralize the acrelites in the pulp-like material. The shredded matter is then washed in a washer comprising a perforated cylindrical drum, which spins and forces the slurry through the perforations, while retaining the plastic material. The slurry-like material containing pulp is then dehydrated. The separate plastic and dehydrated pulp-like materials can then be sold for recycling.

Abstract: An improved process for the mechanical separation of complex, intergrown ores containing mineral of at least one of lead or zinc comprises a differential flotation process followed by an agglomeration process. The improved separation process is useful for bulk separation of mixed, intergrown minerals or for separation of one mineral from another, e.g., separation of lead-containing mineral from zinc-containing mineral.

Abstract: Fine particle coal is beneficiated in specially designed dense medium cyclones to improve particle acceleration and enhance separation efficiency. Raw coal feed is first sized to remove fine coal particles. The coarse fraction is then separated into clean coal, middlings, and refuse. Middlings are comminuted for beneficiation with the fine fraction. The fine fraction is deslimed in a countercurrent cyclone circuit and then separated as multiple fractions of different size specifications in dense medium cyclones. The dense medium contains ultra-fine magnetite particles of a narrow size distribution which aid separation and improves magnetite recovery. Magnetite is recovered from each separated fraction independently, with non-magnetic effluent water from one fraction diluting feed to a smaller-size fraction, and improving both overall coal and magnetite recovery.

Abstract: A method for producing rolled plastic pellets comprising from about 5 to about 10 weight percent cellulosic fiber and less than about 10 weight percent water from mixed plastic waste comprising polymeric film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting injectable collagen from human adipose tissue, such as removed by liposuction procedures. The apparatus includes a clear container with inlet and outlet fittings to be attached to the suction line of a liposuction machine to collect globules of adipose tissue. The container has a needle-like rod disposed in its center and an electric motor and belt drive to rotate the rod at a speed sufficient to cause interstitial reticular fiber from adipose tissue to adhere to and wrap around the rod. Water may then be flowed in through the inlet fitting and drawn out through the outlet fitting to flush the adipose tissue out of container, leaving the reticular fibers on the rod. The rod is then retracted (lowered) through a sleeve which has a rotating chopping blade, scrapping the fiber into a cup area of chopping blades. A pharmaceutical carrier such as saline solution is injected into the container.

Abstract: Classifying and processing post-consumer plastic scrap materials for subsequent utilization. Post-consumer plastic scrap of various kinds, such as colored HDPE, natural HDPE, green PET and clear PET are separating into constituent fractions, and each fraction is separately reduced to flakes. At least some of the fractions are separately washed to remove fragments of labels or other foreign matter previously in place on the plastic bottles or other containers making up those scrap constituents.

Abstract: The separation of silica or siliceous gangue from one or more desired minerals in an aqueous slurry via mechanical apparatus is improved by the addition of a small amount of an alkanol amine to the slurry. Examples of separation techniques benefiting from this technology include cyclones, tables and spiral separators.

Abstract: Food contents are separated from ferrous metal cans for conversion into useful byproducts by lacerating the can bodies into strips of metal to expose their contents, advancing along a vibrating conveyor section through a liquid spray, followed by magnetic separation to remove the metal strips and separately collect the food contents and metal strips for recycling. In order to convert the food contents into animal feed, the contents are first dried to reduce their moisture level either by mechanical dehydration or by the addition of bulking agents and then advanced through an extruder section to convert the food contents into dry particle form.

Abstract: Contaminated soils are treated in that an aqueous slurry of the soil is separated into a coarse fraction and a fine fraction, the fine fraction is subjected to flotation, the resulting froth is dewatered and then carried away as a pollutant concentrate, and the underflow from the flotation is dewatered and is then carried away as purified soil. An emulsified oily vegetable oil is used as a collector agent for the selective flotation or an emulsified light mineral oil is used as a collector agent for the selective flotation and a light mineral oil is stirred as a conditioning agent into the fine fraction before it is subjected to the selective flotation.

Abstract: A bean sifting device which comprises a water-supply assembly, a water tank, a floating-sifting tank, and a supporting frame; the water-supply assembly can have water in the water tank to be forced by use of a pump in the water-supply assembly to flow into the floating-sifting tank through a pipe and slanting water outlet; the water would generate a whirl by use of a round and curved bottom and the wall of the floating-sifting tank; as a result of the effect of a centrifugal force and the different specific gravity gravity of beans, the bad beans will float in the upper water in the tank, and will flow into the water damping area to pass through a slot hole, a round passage and an exhausting port; finally, the bad beans will flow in a sieve basket so as to fulfill a purpose of sifting beans in different classes automatically.

Abstract: A stream containing kerogen-rich and mineral-rich oil shale particles flow in a downward helical course such that the stream is confined in a manner to give the stream an outer and upper side having a first depth and comprising a substantial amount of said kerogen-rich particles, and an inner and lower side having a second depth and comprising a substantial amount of said mineral-rich particles, the first depth being greater than the second depth. The kerogen-rich and mineral-rich particles are subsequently separated in order to recover the kerogen-rich particles. The mineral-rich particles are further processed using froth flotation.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed mixture of zirconium and petroleum coke containing traces amount of radioative materials by flotation process utilizing a plurality of flotation cells. The process comprises grinding the feed mixture, slurrying the ground feed mixture with water, treating the slurry with a flotation agent and a collector for the coke and subjecting the treated slurry to air sparging and agitation to create an overflow and an underflow. The overflow is then filtered to collect substantially zircon-free coke for further processing.

Abstract: A process for separating bitumen from tar sands, which comprises: a) agitating a mixture of tar sand with substantially coarse clean sand at ambient or below ambient temperature in the presence of water, so as to mechanically shear bitumen and enhance the detachment of bitumen particles from mineral matter in said tar sand, b) eluting the detached bitumen and fine mineral matter from the coarse sand by an upward flow of water while stirring gently, c) returning the coarse sand to step a) for reuse, and d) subjecting the eluted bitumen and fine mineral matter to froth flotation to separate the bitumen from said fine mineral matter, wherein the flotation is effected without using any reagents.

Abstract: A novel process has been found wherein multilayer plastic materials are efficiently and effectively separated. The multilayer plastic materials are divided into smaller particles, the particles are agglomerated and then like particles are separated from the other particles. This novel method is useful for recycling multilayer extruded plastic materials.

Abstract: Micron sized gas bubbles produced by electrolysis (e.g., oxygen and/or hydrogen gas bubbles by the electrolysis of water) are introduced into a flotation cell which is also provided with larger bubbles produced by sparging a gas such as air into the flotation cell. The mixed presence of both large bubbles and small bubbles serves to improve the recovery of various copper-containing ores. The small bubble producing electrodes can be retrofitted into an existing sparged gas driven flotation cell.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard template for use with software applications programs is responsive to command signals transmitted by designated function keys on a computer keyboard. The template includes an LCD display screen for displaying icons representative of operations performed by the function keys, control circuitry, and driving circuitry for generating the display of the icons on the LCD screen. In a preferred embodiment, the control circuitry includes a microprocesor, a Random-Access-Memory, and a digital Look-Up-Table, and the driving circuitry comprises a matrix driver and a refresh sequencer. The driving circuitry may further include a DC-to-DC convertor, and a plurality of shift registers for energizing pixel locations designated within a grid system on the LCD screen. In an alternative embodiment, the control circuitry may be external to the template (e.g., within the keyboard).

Abstract: Arsenopyrite is separated from a mixture with pyrite by contacting the mixture with a sulfitic agent providing HSO.sub.3.sup.- ions at elevated temperature and pH below about 8 for a period sufficient to impart a selective depression property to the arsenopyrite. On addition of a collector the pyrite is rendered floatable, enabling froth flotation to achieve a concentrate rich in pyrite and tailings rich in arsenopyrite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating and recovering copper wires, lead grains coming and rubber grains coming from waste cables, through washing, gravimetric separation, screening and by flattening the lead grains thereby facilitating their ready recovery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus for crushing brittle material for grinding, in which the material for grinding is first of all crushed in a roller mill under high pressure so that agglomerates are formed, then undergoes treatment to break up the agglomerates and afterwards is classified on a screen classifier, the oversize fraction is returned to the roller mill and the proportion of the product passing through the screen classifier is passed to a closed-circuit grinding arrangement. Such a method is distinguished by a uniform grinding operation in both crushing stages, requires low energy consumption for conveying the material for grinding from the first crushing stage to the second crushing stage and thus permits a greater spatial distance between the two crushing stages.

Abstract: Scrap goods (S), for example, electronic and electrical apparatus, components, cables and the like are intermittently and alternately mechanically crushed (1,3), magnetically separated (2) and mechanically-physically separated, for example, by means of electrostatic separators (5, 10-12). With the crushing, the dust produced is pneumatically gathered and filtered out (22,9). A non-metal fraction (A) as well as a magnetic (B) and non-magnetic fraction (C) are produced separately as granules and dust. The metal fractions (B, C) are suitable for further pyrolysis-free, wet chemistry and/or electrolytic separation. The non-metallic fraction is capable of being precipitated. The method is noted for its minimal energy consumption and high environmental compatibility.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating shredded particles, for instance particles of used beverage cans, into respective fractions that contain greater amounts of one of a plurality of alloys from which the cans have been made. The method includes screening the shredded material to provide particles having a desired particle size, and gravimetrically separating the screened particles into a plurality of groups based upon the mass of the particles. The heaviest bulk density group of particles is selected for further processing and is first preferably passed through a flattening device to flatten the particles, which are then conveyed through a varying magnetic field provided by a linear induction motor so that the particles containing higher concentrations of higher conductivity alloys can be further separated from particles of alloys having lower electrical conductivities.

Abstract: Wood is reclaimed from demolition debris in a process that includes a vibratory feeder 12 feeding material to a hammer mill 16 which comminutes the debris into fragments that are then fed to a disk screen 22. Debris fragments below a predetermined size are fed to a trommel 28. The trommel sorts small debris particles under a second smaller predetermined size, directing smaller particles to a first waste conveyor. Intermediately sized debris fragments between the first and second predetermined size pass through the outlet of the trommel to a sink float tank 48 in which the non-wood waste debris fragments that sink are transported away by a second waste conveyor 52 and floating wood debris fragments are recovered out of the tank 48 by conveyor 50.

Abstract: A process for the purification of soil contaminated with organic material is provided. The preferred process generally involves superposed attrition and classification processes, which lead to removal and concentration of highly contaminated fractions. The process may also include a step of flotation whereby hydrophobic materials in the soil are released to an interface with air bubbles, and are floated to the top of a flotation cell. In preferred processes according to the present invention, soil to be treated is extracted from a contaminated site, and is broken into relatively small particles. These particles are preferably treated in attrition and classification steps, to remove fine, slow settling contaminated materials such as wood and fine soil materials. The resulting isolated coarser materials are then treated by flotation for a final polishing step.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for its use in cleaning comminuted thermoplastic material for reuse in manufacture of molded plastic products. Batches of plastic including adherent label materials and adhesives are agitated by a rotor until frictionally heated to a predetermined temperature. A flow of air is used to carry away loosened labels and adhesives. A small amount of water is introduced as a spray to dissolve adhesives and soften remaining label materials further, while loosened pieces continue to be removed in a stream of air. Thereafter, remaining adherent particles are removed in an aspirator providing a multi-stage cascade through counter-currents of air, and the particle-carrying air is then cleaned in a cyclone separator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wet process recovery system for solid waste. The waste is fed into a hydrokinetic separation step wherein it is immersed in a body of water which is subjected to rising and lateral flows. These flows establish a synthetic gravitational environment to effect separation of solids above and below a predetermined density greater than the density of water. The solids having the higher densities are collected by gravity and transported from the water for recycling. A modified hammermill is connected to the body of water and the rising and lateral fluid flows cooperate to carry waste into a cutting and ejecting mechanism which both shears friable waste and dynamically ejects non-friable waste back into the liquid. The output of the hammermill is a slurry of comminuted waste in the liquid. This is pumped to a centrifuge separator where solid waste is separated from liquid and the liquid recirculated to the body of water to create the flows in that body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for purifying impure psyllium husk using fluorinated hydrocarbons and the psyllium husk having greater than about 99% purity prepared by these processes.