Abstract: The present invention discloses a singulation system for recyclable materials which has a vacuum chamber having a slot down the middle. The vacuum chamber is substantially hollow such that air being pulled through one side of the vacuum chamber is pulled through the slot. Air is pulled through the vacuum chamber using a vacuum. A belt is rolled around the vacuum chamber, and the belt has hole arrays. The vacuum pulling air through the slot pulls air through the hole arrays, thereby allowing the belt to grab hold of and pull containers up the belt. Various outlet hoses can be provided from the vacuum to blow containers off the belt which are not firmly attached at the hole arrays, or to blow air against the diverter which then blows air across the belt, or to blow air through the hole arrays on the underside of the vacuum chamber to clear out holes which may be clogged from time to time.

Abstract: Sorting of bicarbonate containing ore particles from oil containing ore particles in a mixture of the two types of ore particles by treating the surface of the mixture with an aqueous medium and thereafter subjecting the ore particles, while wet, to microwave energy to heat the surface of the particles sufficiently to whiten the color of the bicarbonate containing particles and thereafter optically sorting the particles according to color.