Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating the organic membrane portion of waste egg shells from the hard inorganic mineral portion thereof, so that each can be used or further processed as desired, thereby addressing the environmental and economic issues associated with disposing of waste egg shells. The membrane and shell are separated by first processing waste eggshells so as to yield small waste eggshell particles. During this processing, the waste eggshell particles are at least slightly abraded, whereby the linking structure between the membrane and shell is at least partially disrupted. Thereafter, the waste eggshell particles are conveyed to a device, which isolates the two components based on their size and weight differences. The methods listed above can provide products from the eggshell waste including precipitated calcium carbonate, membrane, protein, amino acids, collagen and other important components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating the organic membrane portion of waste egg shells from the hard inorganic mineral portion thereof, so that each can be used or further processed as desired, thereby addressing the environmental and economic issues associated with disposing of waste egg shells. The membrane and shell are separated by first processing waste eggshells so as to yield small waste eggshell particles. During this processing, the waste eggshell particles are at least slightly abraded, whereby the linking structure between the membrane and shell is at least partially disrupted. Thereafter, the waste eggshell particles are conveyed to a device, which isolates the two components based on their size and weight differences. The methods listed above can provide products from the eggshell waste including precipitated calcium carbonate, membrane, protein, amino acids, collagen and other important components.