Abstract: A sand washing apparatus may be used for separating organic material from a mixture comprising sand and organic material. The apparatus may comprise: a wash chamber for accepting a mixture comprising sand and organic material, the chamber including a lower portion; and an agitator comprising a screw having two or more flights extending into the lower portion. A method for recovering sand from a mixture comprising sand and organic material may comprise the steps of: introducing a mixture comprising sand and organic material into a water-filled chamber having a net flow of water in an upwardly direction; allowing organic material from the mixture to ascend in a net upwardly direction and allowing sand from the mixture to descend in a net downwardly direction; subjecting at least a portion of the descending sand to a turbulence; and recovering sand that has descended past the turbulence.

Abstract: A sand washing apparatus may be used for separating organic material from a mixture comprising sand and organic material. The apparatus may comprise: a wash chamber for accepting a mixture comprising sand and organic material, the chamber including a lower portion; and an agitator comprising a screw having two or more flights extending into the lower portion. A method for recovering sand from a mixture comprising sand and organic material may comprise the steps of: introducing a mixture comprising sand and organic material into a water-filled chamber having a net flow of water in an upwardly direction; allowing organic material from the mixture to ascend in a net upwardly direction and allowing sand from the mixture to descend in a net downwardly direction; subjecting at least a portion of the descending sand to a turbulence; and recovering sand that has descended past the turbulence.

Abstract: A disclosed sand washing apparatus may be used for separating organic material from a mixture comprising sand and organic material. The apparatus may comprise: a wash chamber for accepting a mixture comprising sand and organic material, an agitator, a collection chamber, and a conveyor configured to transport sand away from the collection chamber. The disclosed method for recovering sand from a mixture comprising sand and organic material may comprise the steps of: introducing the mixture into a chamber, allowing organic material to ascend while allowing sand to descend, subjecting a portion of the descending sand to a turbulence that creates a lifting action, and recovering sand that has descended past the turbulence.

Abstract: Apparatus for devolatilizing materials such as solvent containing polymers includes a cylindrical housing having inlet and discharge ends and a screw member rotatably mounted in the housing, operative to work material so as to release contained vaporizable substances from the material. An inlet fitting at the inlet end of the chamber is located opposite a part of the screw member. The housing includes a venting section extending therefrom at the inlet end and the screw member has a screw vent control section extending within the venting section, arranged to convey material toward the discharge end of the housing.

Abstract: A vent adapted for use with a devolatilizer having a mechanical press includes a closed vent chamber extending generally vertically above the mechanical press and having a horizontal cross-sectional area which increases from the bottom to the top of the vent chamber. An input opening at the bottom of the chamber communicates with the mechanical press and an extraction port adjacent the upper portion of the chamber removes the vapors from the chamber and transports them to volatile recovery apparatus or disposal apparatus. A tamping means, including one or more actuatable tamping rods in the vent chamber, is provided for forcing the material being processed back into the mechanical press. The vent is maintained free of particle build-up and the processed material is returned to the mechanical press.

Abstract: A vent for a devolatilizer includes a means defining a vent opening in the cage of the devolatilizer and a vent duct which communicates with the vent opening. Gas escapes into a cylindrical vent chamber in the vent duct. The chamber is cleaned by a vent screw which is rotated in the chamber and which includes a screw body of minimal diameter and a helical screw flight portion of a pitch which is sufficiently large such that the velocity of the vapor leaving the cage through the vent duct is maintained below a predetermined maximum vapor velocity. This maximum vapor velocity is set such that the amount of fine material which is entrained in the escaping vapor is minimized. A vapor return duct is connected to the vent chamber for extracting vapor from the chamber so that it may be recycled or disposed of.