Abstract: A powder feeder includes a hopper holding powder particles and a rotating conductive wheel having a rim. The rim has a powder landing surface in a groove in the rim. As the wheel rotates, the powder landing surface is disposed below the hopper. A voltage supply electrically communicates with an electrode and the wheel. The electrode and powder landing surface have a space between them. An insulator is disposed between the electrode and the wheel. The voltage supply produces an AC electric potential between the electrode and the rim that creates an alternating electric field within the space. An outlet chamber is positioned below the wheel. The electric field created within the space causes powder particles falling onto the powder landing surface and rotating under the electrode to develop an electrical surface charge. An electrostatic force causes powder particles to oscillate between the pile and the insulator. After a period of oscillation the particles drop over the edges of the rim and into the chamber.

Abstract: A method for separating a granular synthetic material from a loose mass of various synthetic materials includes: conveying the granular mass along a trajectory having a rubbing surface subjecting the mass falling from the rubbing surface to an electrical field; and collecting at least one of the masses separated by the electrical field. The mass advances in a single layer on the rubbing surface, while maintaining the single layer contact with the rubbing surface, the rubbing surface being subjected to repeated acceleration in opposite directions in the plane of the rubbing surface, or tangential thereto to move the mass on the surface in order to improve the electrostatic charge. The rubbing surface is made of or clad with a material having intermediate triboelectric properties with respect to those of the granular mass, and is clad with a same material as that which it is intended to separate from the mass.

Abstract: A separation system includes an air separator that, in one embodiment, primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing a mixture of relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers and relatively heavy MSW such as textiles, food waste, yard debris, etc. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyor while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyor. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat fiber and plastic film materials from the other paper, plastic and metal containers. In another separation stage, an electrostatic emitter is positioned adjacent to a conveyor for applying an electrostatic charge to the fiber and plastic materials.

Abstract: A method and a device for electrostatically separating polyvalent granular insulating materials that have good properties, are energy efficient, and easily adapt to ambient atmospheric conditions and to physiochemical properties of the granules to be separated.

Abstract: A method for separating bitumen from crude oil sands comprises subjecting crude oil sands to vibration selected to cause bitumen to separate from crude oil sands and filtering the separated bitumen from the crude oil sands.

Abstract: An electrostatic separation apparatus for conductive particles and insulating particles with reduced separation time and improved separating capability, comprises a substantially flat-plate shaped bottom electrode (26) provided on lower side, a substantially flat-plate shaped mesh electrode (22) provided above the bottom electrode (26) as spaced a predetermined distance apart from the bottom electrode (26) and having a number of openings (24) to allow particles to pass therethrough, a direct current power supply connected to at least one of the mesh electrode (22) and the bottom electrode (24), and a voltage is applied across the bottom electrode (22) and the mesh electrode (24), thereby forming a separation zone (10) between the electrodes.

Abstract: Apparatus for the electrostatic separation of a mixture of particles that exhibit difference in electrical conductivity, comprising: a conductive surface to which conducting particles lose their charge; feeding means for feeding the mixture of particles onto the conductive surface; an ionising electrode for ionising individual particles in the mixture of particles; and a first static electrode having the same polarity as the ionising electrode and which serves to generate a static electric field, the first static electrode being located sufficiently close to the ionising electrode that the static electric field acts continuously on the particles as they are ionised; wherein conducting particles are separated from non-conducting particles on the basis of their different retained charge after a period of contact with the conductive surface.

Abstract: A method of collecting gold by flowing water over a gold collecting medium located in a sluice to induce a positive surface charge on the gold collecting medium. Feeding gold laden material into the sluice with the flowing water to induce a negative surface charge on gold particles of the gold laden material and create a slurry. Setting the flow rate of the slurry into the sluice such that the gold particles are attracted to the gold collecting medium. Finally, collecting the gold particles attracted to the gold collecting medium from the gold collecting medium. A gold separation device having a sluice having an input end and an output end; a water input directed into the input end of the sluice; and a gold collecting medium in the sluice. The gold collecting medium being of a material which incurs a positive surface charge when immersed in water.

Abstract: A corona and static electrode assembly is attachable to a frame of an existing electrostatic separator and includes a pair of oppositely spaced end panels and an elongate corona support member disposed inwardly of and supported by the respective end panels. The corona support member is preferably formed from a single piece of rigid material and has a substantially L-shape for directing an electrostatic field intensity towards the outer surface of a rotating drum. A pair of spaced spacers are connected to and laterally extend from the corona support member and an elongate conductive wire extends between the pair of spacers. The wire is preferably supported between the spacers and threaded bolts passing therethrough, respectively, can adjust its tension. A plurality of elongate static electrodes are spaced from the wire and are connected between the pair of end panels.

Abstract: An apparatus for tribocharging particles of electrically insulating materials has a rotatable drum (1), made of a metallic material, for containing the particles. The drum has an inlet (11), for charging material, and an outlet (13), for discharging material. The drum further has means (7) for rotating the drum about an axis of rotation, the orientation of the axis of rotation being such that, in operation of the apparatus, the particles tumble against each other and against the walls of the vessel, thereby becoming tribocharged. A fines removal mesh screening means (10) is attached to an outer surface of the drum, allowing fines to escape from the drum. An electrostatic separation tower (20), having tapering walls and at least one pair of electrodes (24) arranged on opposite walls of the tower, is aligned to receive discharged material from the drum. The tower separates the particles, falling from the drum into the tower (20), in an electric field generated between the electrodes (24).

Abstract: A feed tray (22) for guiding tribo electrified plastic pieces (2) to a drum electrode (6) is provided with a vibrator (23), thereby making it possible to vibrate the plastic pieces (2) to form a thin uniform layer, and to reliably apply appropriate image force and centrifugal force to the plastic pieces (2) fed to the drum electrode (6); thus, the plastic pieces (2) can be separated according to kind with high precision.

Abstract: The electrostatic classifier and separator is supported by a housing and includes a corona classifier section for classifying particulate materials according to size. Corona means supplies mobile ions for bombarding particulate materials dropping down a passageway from a reservoir. A splitter and screen may be included in the passageway to direct particulate materials into respective fractions. First separator section receives fine to middle size fractions and second separator section receives middle to coarse size fractions. A support frame having adjustable slots supports a plurality of static electrodes. Corona means for emitting a corona charge is spaced generally in a first quadrant of first separator section. A rotatable brush and an alternating current wiper may be included for removing fine to middle size nonconductive fractions from first separator section.

Abstract: A collector for use in removing metal ions from a plasma in a vacuum chamber includes a collector plate that is mounted inside the chamber and formed with an internal cooling channel. An injector introduces a dissociated salt into the chamber with a first throughput value, and it introduces a plasma including metal ions into the chamber with a lower second throughput value. A pump is used to pump a liquid coolant through the cooling channel to maintain the collector plate at a temperature that forms a portion of the salt as a protective layer on the collector plate, and causes the salt to thereafter deposit on the layer in a molten condition at a faster rate than evaporation therefrom to trap metal ions therein. The trapped metal ions are then removed with the molten salt from the chamber.

Abstract: A collector cup for the collection and removal of the low-mass particles that exit from a plasma mass filter includes a cylindrical shaped wall, an internally cooled. getter plate and a plurality of internally cooled baffles. The baffles are concentrically mounted and are attached to the inside of the cylindrical wall, between the getter plate and the plasma mass filter thereby creating an enclosed volume that is defined by the getter plate, the baffles and the cylinder wall. Entryways are formed between the baffles to allow the gas formed at the baffles to enter the enclosed volume. When the ions and electrons exit from the filter, they collide with the cooler baffles, ano combine to form neutral atoms and vaporize. Once formed, the gas can pass through the entryways and into the enclosed volume where it can be condensed onto the surface of the temperature controlled getter plate.

Abstract: An improved method for separating electrically conductive components of an ore or mineral sand from electrically non-conductive components of the ore or mineral sand is disclosed which includes processing the ore, adding a polymer, such as an anionic polymer, to the processed ore, drying the polymer and ore, and then feeding the ore and polymer through an electrostatic separator. The addition of the anionic polymer to the processed ore increases the efficiency of the electrostatic separation process.