Abstract: Metallic CNTs and semiconducting CNTs are efficiently separated from a CNT mixture of these CNTs, and semiconducting CNTs are separated by structure by using a method that enables separation in high yield in a short time period while conveniently enabling mass processing and automatic processing with inexpensive equipment. Multiple columns charged with gel are connected in series, and excess amounts of a CNT dispersion is passed through the columns to adsorb only the CNTs of a specific structure on the columns. The CNTs are then eluted with an elution to separate CNTs of different structures with high accuracy. The present technique represents a method that conveniently enables mass processing and automatic processing at high yield in a short time period with inexpensive equipment.

Abstract: A method for destroying bank notes is provided, wherein bank notes are checked and sorted by at least one bank-note processing machine in at least one decentralized place, whereby unfit bank notes are sorted out in order to be transported to a central place for destruction. It is provided that all bank notes recognized as unfit are stored on a single stack independently of the bank-note denomination and/or orientation recognized during the check, for which purpose a single output pocket of the bank-note processing machine is used for all unfit bank notes.

Abstract: A method for separating seeds of different densities in a process stream, wherein the seeds are introduced into a magnetic process fluid for the formation of the process stream, which process stream is subjected to a magnetic field for the realization of a density stratification in the process stream, such that the individual seeds in the process stream assume a density-dependent position, after which the seeds located in or near a predetermined position or positions in the process stream, are separated from the remaining seeds in the process stream.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed herein for recovery of high-purity silicon, silicon carbide and PEG from a slurry produced during a wafer cutting process. A silicon-containing material can be processed for production of a silicon-rich composition. Silicon carbide and PEG recovered from the silicon-containing material can be used to form a wafer-saw cutting fluid. The silicon-rich composition can be reacted with iodine containing compounds that can be purified and/or used to form deposited silicon of high purity. The produced silicon can be used in the photovoltaic industry or semiconductor industry.

Abstract: A method for reducing the content of a heavy metal in a mixture of solid plastic materials, wherein the mixture includes plastic flakes and there are at least two different colors of plastic flakes in the mixture. A percentage of each of two or more colors of flakes in the mixture is determined. A heavy metal content in the mixture based on the determined percentages is predicted. Whether the predicted content of the heavy metal in the mixture exceeds a pre-determined threshold is determined. If the predicted content exceeds the pre-determined threshold, a color sorting step is performed to obtain a subset of the mixture of plastic flakes, wherein the subset of the mixture of plastic flakes has a lower heavy metal content than the mixture prior to the color sorting step.

Abstract: A method and device for reprocessing used plastic containers, especially PET bottles, by analyzing the degree of contamination of the plastic, determining the decontamination process parameters as a function of the degree of contamination found in the analyzing step, and conducting a controlled decontamination of the plastic according to the decontamination process parameters thus determined. With this method and this device, it is thus possible to perform the decontamination process step in a controlled manner, yielding a more economical reprocessing method.

Abstract: An apparatus (25) for use in screening a liquid and solids mixture feed (2) comprises a conduit (18), including a screening portion (22) that is formed and arranged to divide a liquid and solids mixture feed flowing through the conduit. The feed (2) is divided into a first, cleaned stream (C1) comprising liquid and solid particles of below a selected size limit, and a second, concentrated, stream (24) comprising liquid, and particles above the selected size limit. The apparatus (25) may be a stand alone module, part of a system with other solids and liquids separating equipment or an integral part of a solids and liquid separator such as a shale shaker. Methods of using the apparatus (25) are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating magnetic constituents from an aqueous dispersion comprising these magnetic constituents and nonmagnetic constituents by passing the aqueous dispersion through a reactor space in which the aqueous dispersion is separated by means of a magnet installed on the outside of the reactor space into at least one stream I comprising the magnetic constituents and at least one stream II comprising the nonmagnetic constituents, wherein the magnetic constituents in stream I are treated with a flushing stream, a reactor comprising a reactor space, at least one magnet installed on the outside of the reactor space, at least one inlet, at least one outlet for a stream I and at least one outlet for a stream II and at least one facility for treating stream I with a flushing stream, and also the use of this reactor in the process of the invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for recovering silicon from saw kerf, or an exhausted abrasive slurry, resulting from the cutting of a silicon ingot, such as a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon ingot. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods for isolating and purifying silicon from saw kerf or the exhausted slurry, such that the resulting silicon may be used as a raw material, such as a solar grade silicon raw material.

Abstract: A method for sorting wastes wherein waste or recyclable material is supplied in carrier bags. A sorting apparatus includes a conveyor provided for receiving the carrier bags for separation from each other by guiding the carrier bags into containers according to an allotment. An RFID identifier is connected to each carrier bag. A closing member is provided with the RFID identifier in closing, or as verification of closing. At least one sensor is utilized on the basis of the information read from the RFID identifier of the closing member. At least one handling device, such as a robot, is provided wherein the at least one handling device is controlled to transfer the carrier bags to be sorted from the conveyor into the different allotments on the basis of the information given by the RFID identifiers. The invention also relates to an apparatus.

Abstract: Extraction of bitumen from oil sands may generate oil sands tailings mixed with a liquid. Systems may be used to separate the liquid from the tailings so the tailings can be disposed or otherwise reclaimed. In some examples, a system includes a primary separation vessel configured to receive oil sands tailings mixed with water and to separate the oil sands tailings into a plurality of layers, where at least one of the plurality of layers includes a mature fines tailing material. The system may include an apparatus configured to receive the mature fines tailing material from the primary separation vessel and to mechanically separate a portion of the water in the mature fine tailings material. The system may also include an apparatus configured to receive a concentrated oil sands tailings material and to thermally evaporate water from the concentrated oil sands tailings materials, thereby producing trafficable dried oil sands tailings.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting animal protein is provided. The method includes determining a desired characteristic of a cut of meat from an animal portion and associating the desired characteristic with an attribute of the animal portion. The attribute is ascertained and the animal portion is sorted based on the ascertained attribute. Like animal portions are grouped together for further processing as a group.

Abstract: A process of regulating the water content of water-fluidized oil sand ore during processing of the ore is disclosed. The weight (mo) of a sample charge of oil sand ore having a bulk volume (Vt) is determined. The inter granular voids of the sample charge are then filled with water, and the weight (ma) of the added inter granular water is determined. A target specific gravity value (SGmix) is selected for the fluidized oil sand ore. The volume of additional water, ?V, to add to a sample charge of bulk volume Vt, to achieve the target specific gravity value (SGmix) is calculated by solving the following equation: ? ? ? V = V t · ( ( m o + m a ? ? ? w · V t ) - SG mix SG mix - 1 ) + m a ? ? ? w The determined volume ?V of additional water per bulk volume Vt of oil sand ore to be processed is added to the oil sand ore, producing water-fluidized oil sand ore. The ore is then processed to concentrate the bitumen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises a bubble valve for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the concentration of platinum group metals in urban waste material. The method comprises obtaining particles of urban waste material; screening the particles of urban waste material by size, selecting particles of urban waste material that lie within a defined size range; and processing the selected particles using at least one physical or chemical technique whereby to increase the concentration of platinum group metals to at least 5 ppm. The invention also relates to an apparatus for increasing the concentration of platinum group metals in particulate urban waste material. The apparatus comprises: a drying unit (4), a particle size screening unit (5); and one or more processing units for effecting platinum group metal concentration of the particulate urban waste material by physical and/or chemical techniques, in particular a magnetic separation unit (7) and a froth flotation cell (9).

Abstract: A method comprising; a step in which unburned carbon contained in coal ash is mechanically separated with a classifier; a step in which the coal ash from which part of the unburned carbon has been removed with the classifier is pulverized or disaggregated with a pulverizer; a step in which water is added to the coal ash pulverized or disaggregated with the pulverizer to obtain a slurry; a step in which a scavenger is added to the slurried coal ash; a step in which a shear force is applied to the slurry containing the scavenger to cause the scavenger to selectively adhere to the unburned carbon contained in the coal ash; a step in which a foaming agent is added to the slurry in which the scavenger has adhered to the unburned carbon; and a step in which the unburned carbon is floated on the slurry containing the foaming agent together with bubbles and is separated.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems of detecting useful material in a mixed solid, liquid and/or gaseous material stream. The methods include defining a value range requirement for at least one parameter of interest of useful material to be selected from the material stream, passing the material stream through at least one detector adapted to measure the parameter of interest of the material stream, and separating the material stream into useful material and residue based on the measured parameter. The systems comprise at least one detector adapted to measure a parameter of interest of the material stream passing therethrough; and at least one separator for separating the material stream into useful material and residue based on the measured parameter after passing through the detector. The system may further comprise treaters, processors, and controllers.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analysing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles and sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis. The method also comprises controlling the temperature of particles as the particles are moved between a station at which particles are exposed to microwave energy and a station at which particles are thermally analysed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for recycling coal ash, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for recycling coal ash, in which the apparatus for recycling coal ash comprises an unburned coal ash recovery unit and a lightweight aggregate manufacturing unit and is provided in an existing thermoelectric power plant and in which coal ash which is generated in the thermoelectric power plant is completely recycled for specific purposes using the coal ash recycling apparatus. According to the invention, the surrounding environment can be prevented from being contaminated during the transportation of waste to a recycling factory and transportation expenses can be reduced. Moreover, coal ash is completely recycled for specific uses, such that unburned carbon contained in the coal ash can be used. Also, coal ash can be recycled even as concrete admixtures having strict standards.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analysing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles. The thermal analysis step includes thermally assessing particles against a background surface. The thermal analysis step also includes heating the background surface to a temperature that is different to the temperature of the particles to provide a thermal contrast between the particles and the background surface. The method also comprises sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.

Abstract: A separation apparatus (A) separates particulates such as sand from a slurry of water/sand/manure. Particularly, passage (20) receives the slurry and injectors (40) assist the slurry over ramp (42) and aid in separating the sand and organic material from the slurry. The sand proceeds through a discharge (44) and preferably a counter flow of sanitizer from sterilizing passage (60) proceeds through the sand. Cleaned and sanitized sand is temporarily stored in a collector (62).

Abstract: A process for producing a mineral concentrate product that at is at least a substantially odour-free product comprises any one or more than one of (a) organics removal by (i) treatment of a froth product slurry containing floated mineral particles to remove organic compounds from the mineral particles and/or (ii) thermal treatment, and (b) addition of chemicals to prevent residual organic compounds on mineral concentrates being converted to odorous compounds, particularly while the concentrates are being stock-piled or transported.

Abstract: Method for industrial processing of charcoal ash (1) created in the power plants by separating a carbonaceous product from the mentioned charcoal ash to be reused and by gathering essentially carbon free, siliceous ash products gained during the processing.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method stand up and process articles of different dimensions, in particular flat mail items. A conveying device transports articles to an up-ending apparatus. The up-ending apparatus transports the articles further and, in the process, up-ends the articles such that the up-ended articles stand on an edge. Up-ended articles are transported to a separating apparatus. The separating apparatus separates flat articles such that a stream of upright, spaced-apart articles leaves the separating apparatus. Up-ended and separated articles are transported to a format-separating device. The format-separating device divides the articles as a function of the dimensions thereof into article classes such that all of the articles of a set of articles belong to the same format class. All of the articles of a set of articles are transported as a stream of upright and spaced-apart articles to an appropriate processing device. The processing device processes the articles.

Abstract: A method for reducing the content of a heavy metal in a mixture of solid plastic materials, wherein the mixture includes plastic flakes and there are at least two different colors of plastic flakes in the mixture. A percentage of each of two or more colors of flakes in the mixture is determined. A heavy metal content in the mixture based on the determined percentages is predicted. Whether the predicted content of the heavy metal in the mixture exceeds a pre-determined threshold is determined. If the predicted content exceeds the pre-determined threshold, a color sorting step is performed to obtain a subset of the mixture of plastic flakes, wherein the subset of the mixture of plastic flakes has a lower heavy metal content than the mixture prior to the color sorting step.

Abstract: Raw meal sludge is dried in a vapor flow dryer by circulating exhaust vapor through a steam circuit which, prior to introduction thereof into the lower part of the dryer, is heated by indirect heat transmission from gaseous flows from a pre-heating system from a gas cyclone of a clinker production line. A partial vapor flow corresponding to water evaporated during raw meal sludge drying is removed from the steam circuit and extracted in the form of a condensate after increasing the vapor temperature by a vapor compressor and the passage of vapor arranged in the dryer over a heating surface of a vapor condenser. The sludge is sprayed into the lower part of the dryer where water is evaporated by the heat of the circulating exhaust vapor and heat from the condenser heating surface. Dried raw meal is separated from the exhaust vapor in a cyclone separator.

Abstract: A banknote handling apparatus 1 of the present invention includes: a recognition unit 6 for recognizing an extent of wrinkle of banknotes to be supplied; a stacking unit 32 to 36 for stacking and sorting the banknotes based on a recognized result of the recognition unit 6; a bundling unit 51 for bundling the banknotes stacked by the stacking unit 32 to 36; and bundling-force control unit 120 for changing, based on the recognized result of the recognition unit 6, bundling forces of a tape adopted when the bundling unit 51 bundles the banknotes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for tagging complex products for use in the identification and, optionally, segregation of the components therein. In particular, the present invention provides techniques for identifying products included in a mixed waste stream based on its product type or on the materials of which the product is comprised. According to the system and method of the present invention, if the product type or its material of construction are designated for removal from the mixed waste stream, the product is segregated, thereby enabling exclusion of such products and materials from an optimum fuel created from the remaining items in the mixed waste stream.

Abstract: A method and system for the processing of items that are supplied to a batching apparatus, where the batching apparatus comprises at least one handling means of the robotic type. By means of the batching apparatus a first process is performed, according to which items are selectively batched in consideration of measured, detected and/or estimated data for the individual items and in consideration of at least one predefined criterion. Particular items are identified and led to another process, the particular items being items that are deviant in relation to one or more predefined parameter(s) relating to the batching and/or items that have not been selected to be batched during the first process.

Abstract: A separation apparatus (A) separates particulates such as sand from a slurry of water/sand/manure. Particularly, passage (20) receives the slurry and injectors (40) assist the slurry over ramp (42) and aid in separating the sand and organic material from the slurry. The sand proceeds through a discharge (44) and preferably a counter flow of sanitizer from sterilizing passage (60) proceeds through the sand. Cleaned and sanitized sand is temporarily stored in a collector (62).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of reductively bleaching a mineral slurry comprising adding in the mineral slurry an effective amount of a formamidine sulfinic acid (FAS) and an effective amount of a borohydride to reductively bleach the mineral slurry, compositions comprising a mineral slurry, a FAS, and a borohydride, and final products comprising a mineral obtained by the method disclosed herein.

Abstract: A process for the enrichment of anatase mechanical concentrates, in order to obtain synthetic rutile with low contents of rare earth and radioactive elements, comprising the steps of: calcination of the anatase concentrate; reduction of the calcined product; dry or wet low-intensity magnetic separation of the reduced product; dry, high-intensity, high-gradient magnetic separation of the non-magnetic fraction from the low-intensity separation; leaching of the high-intensity magnetic fraction; oxidation of the dried product; leaching of the quenched product; filtering of the product from the second leaching; drying of the filtered product; and dry, high-intensity, high-gradient magnetic separation of the product of the second leaching.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screening device consisting of an elongated comb comprising several flexible combs arranged in parallel. The invention is characterised in that the combs are provided with angular or rounded sections, which form a grid that defines the particle size of the screened material. The invention also relates to a roller crusher comprising a screening device of the aforementioned type.

Abstract: A method for treating dust including: separating, in a vacuum cleaner, the dust into at least two fractions which differ in at least one of a size and a mass of particles of the dust; and adding a dust-binding agent to at least a first of the fraction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is employed to create a mixture having a desired composition. A raw material is separated in a pair of density separators into constituent parts. Those parts are then recombined in a desired fashion using a pair of splitters to create an intermediate mixture and delivered to a third density separator. The third density separator processes the intermediate mixture to create a final mixture having the desired composition.

Abstract: A heavy oil is hydrorefined using a hydrorefining catalyst. A spent hydrorefining catalyst whose activity has decreased is heat treated (S1) and pulverized to obtained a regenerated powder (S2). This regenerated powder is fractionated according to its metal content (S3), formed (S6), dried (S7), and calcined (S7) to manufacture a regenerated catalyst whose volume of pores with a diameter of 50 to 2000 nm is at least 0.2 ml/g, and whose volume of pores with a diameter over 2000 nm is no more than 0.1 mL/g. Using this regenerated catalyst, a heavy oil containing at least 45 wt ppm vanadium and nickel as combined metal elements is hydrodemetalized, and the vanadium and nickel are recovered from the used regenerated catalyst (SS1). Through hydrorefining, the metal components are recovered more efficiently, and the spent catalyst can be reused to manufacture a regenerated catalyst that exhibits high reaction, activity.

Abstract: A method of recovering metal and/or oxide thereof from a slurry is described. The method involves magnetically separating at least a portion of any magnetic impurities from the slurry and then leaching or dissolving at least a portion of any remaining magnetic impurities in a slurry. At least one chelating agent can then be added to the slurry and the solids can be recovered from the slurry by various separation techniques. The methods of the present invention are particularly useful in the recovery of tantalum and/or oxide thereof especially tantalum and/or oxide thereof having a very fine size.

Abstract: In a coal preparation plant which receives a raw coal feed and separates the raw coal feed into a clean coal feed and a refuse feed, an apparatus is provided for use therein. The apparatus mixes the sized raw coal feed particles with a slurry of media and water used for separating the raw coal feed into clean coal and refuse. The inventive apparatus includes a pulping column integrally designed with the discharge chute of a deslime screen and the drain section underpan of clean coal and refuse screens. The pulping column having a coal inlet receiving the sized raw coal directly from the deslime screen, a media inlet receiving the slurry of media and water directly from an underpan of at least one of the refuse screen and the clean coal screen, and an outlet discharging the mixture of sized raw coal and slurry. The pulping column mixes the sized raw coal and the slurry of media and water according to a select proportion, and it is then pumped to a heavy media separation section of the coal preparation plant.

Abstract: Methods of controlling the bulk density, permeability, moisture retention and thermal properties of bulk materials are provided by selectively sizing the bulk material. Preferably, the bulk material is sized into successively smaller particle size fractions, with the largest fraction placed into a confined area. The next smaller size fraction is then added until the largest sized fraction begins to dilate. The next successive smaller size fraction is added until the mixture beams to dilate, with the process being continued until the smallest size fraction is used. Methods of decreasing the density of bulk materials are also provided.

Abstract: A method or processing composite waste including combustibles and incombustibles has a press process for pressing the composite waste, a dry distillation process for performing dry distillation on the pressed composite waste, a shredding process for shredding the composite waste that has been pressed and has undergone dry distillation and a separating process for separating the shredded composite waste into combustible carbide and incombustibles.

Abstract: A system for irradiating mail, comprising a device for conveying mail along a predetermined path and a device for irradiating the mail moving along the path with a beam of electrons. An apparatus for chilling the mail is provided along the path. The apparatus exposes the mail to a low-temperature, gaseous fluid created using a cryogenic fluid.

Abstract: When a printed board is soldered by a dipping method, a great deal of dross is generated on a jet solder tank. The dross is a mixture of melted solder and oxide. A worker takes out the dross from the jet solder tank, and throws it away. Thus, a large amount of the solder is consumed. The present invention relates to a separating device for separating oxide and solder from dross. A container (21) is provided with a heater (22). A cover (24) is set over the container (21) to be freely attachable or detachable, and further a non-oxidizing gas supplying opening (28) is made in the cover (24) or the container (21). A stirring spatula (25) for stirring the surface of a melted solder (23) put into the container (21) is set near the surface of the melted solder (23).

Abstract: Drill cuttings slurries and the like are transported by high pressure pumping the slurry through an extended pipeline, if necessary after treatment of the slurry to render it suitable for high pressure pumping. Apparatus for pumping the slurry includes a tank for receiving the slurry to be pumped, means for agitating the slurry in the tank to mix it, and a high pressure pump for receiving slurry from the tank for pumping away from the tank.

Abstract: A method of cleaning encrusted ballast comprises the steps of screening the encrusted ballast to separate detritus from the ballast, washing the screened ballast with water while removing the separated detritus on a conveyor belt unit, clarifying the washing water to produce a clarified water portion and washing water sludge, and disposing of the washing water sludge by moving it to the detritus on the conveyor belt unit for common removal with the detritus.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for segregating ponded coal combustion materials for use in various products, such as block sand products, concrete or mid-size sand products and fine ash products. After screening ponded coal combustion raw materials to remove the first size material for use as a block sand product, the remaining material passes through a rotating magnetic separator to remove iron bearing materials and then to a hydraulic classifier for separating coarse materials, middling size materials and fine materials. The coarse materials are combined with the first size materials and are de-watered to form the block sand product. The middling size materials are segregated into low, middle and high specific gravity materials by the use of spirals. The low specific gravity material is passed through a sizing sleeve and coarse low specific gravity material is combined with the middle specific gravity material and are de-watered to form a concrete or mid-size sand product.

Abstract: In a mineral preparation plant which receives a raw mineral feed and separates the raw mineral feed into a clean mineral and a refuse, an apparatus is provided for use therein. The inventive apparatus retains dilute media which is formed as a by-product of the separation process. The inventive apparatus includes a sump formed in a floor of the mineral preparation plant and configured to receive and retain: (a) dilute media, consisting of finely sized particles of mineral, refuse, media and water, from an underpan of at least one refuse screen and a clean mineral screen, and (b) mineral, refuse and media particles spilled by mineral processing equipment in the mineral preparation plant.

Abstract: Waste management has been primarily based on collection of waste and placing most of it in a landfill or in an incinerator. Waste to resource eliminates a need for large landfills or incinerators by integrating collection of waste with separation and reuse of waste. Present invention eliminates a need for disposing readily usable materials into landfills or incinerators by separating and preparing as needed the usable materials for direct reuse such as environmental enhancements in coastal zone including active and passive coastal barrier systems such as artificial reefs. The coastal barriers systems are constructed along a selected depth that will enhance the hydrodynamics for more desirable self-maintained coastal biological and physical process. A portion of waste is processed and utilized together with other resource waste.

Abstract: A process for producing sodium tripolyphosphate includes mixing sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate with dilute phosphoric acid in amounts which are substantially stoichiometric for the production of sodium tripolyphosphate to produce an intermediate crystalline mix in a sludge. The intermediate crystalline mix is separated from the sludge, and melted in a vessel to cause sodium tripolyphosphate to be produced. The molten sodium tripolyphosphate is removed from the vessel, and cooled to produce solid sodium tripolyphosphate.

Abstract: An animal waste management system and method thereof is disclosed. The system is designed for use in high flush waste removal systems, but obviates the need for anaerobic lagoons when coupled to an advanced waste treatment facility. The system uses a continuous recycle loop of the waste slurry to increase the total solids concentration of the waste slurry to a level required by advanced waste treatment facilities. In particular, coarse solids are separated and removed from the recycled waste slurry to prevent clogging of the system. Aeration and pH control of the waste slurry when necessary prevents deterioration of the air quality surrounding the system.

Abstract: A drilling mud clarification or reclamation system is provided. High gravity and low gravity solids are removed from the drilling mud in respective centrifugal separator stages. A plurality of in-line mass flow sensors are provided to provide real-time indication of the effectiveness of the clarification of the drilling mud, and to provide control signals to a central control station. The heavier weight components are separated from the mud and returned to the system for further use. The lighter weight components are removed and are discarded to clean the mud. A cuttings dryer is provided to remove oil from cuttings which have been separated from a shale shaker stage. A de-sludging centrifuge is also provided to remove very fine cuttings which may have a harmful effect on the viscosity of the mud.