Abstract: A process is described for the separation of fluorinated plastic particles from a mixture of solid particles of similar specific gravity. The process comprises mixing the particles with water, adding air to create bubbles, and generating two or more product streams, one of which floats and the other which sinks. The floating stream is enriched in fluoropolymer particles. Per pass yield and selectivity of fluorinated plastics are enhanced by the addition of a carboxylic acid to the froth flotation medium.

Abstract: Hydrogravity separation of a multiple domain solid feedstock is disclosed which comprises granulating the feedstock to produce particles each of substantially a single domain, with each type of particle having a different density. The particles are slurried into a suitable fluid. A dispersion mixer having a high shear and/or turbulent zone is utilized to disperse agglomerated particles and a quiescent hydrogravity tank is utilized to effect binary separation of the mixture of particles into a stream with a higher average specific gravity, and a stream with a lower average specific gravity. A high degree of product purity is obtained by feeding one or both of the initial product streams to a collection of dispersion mixer/hydrogravity tank units using a fluid of substantially the same specific gravity.