Abstract: A vibratory screening machine includes a primary screening area and a pre-screening assembly including a frame and screen assemblies. The screen assemblies are secured to the frame and form a pre-screening surface. The frame is attached to the vibratory screening machine such that the concave pre-screening surface is above the primary screening area.

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 beneficiation process and apparatus for the continuous treatment of comminuted woody biomass, particularly hog fuel, to substantially remove mineral impurities and bark and to recover white wood therefrom for use as industrial feedstocks.

Abstract: A device for reprocessing used plastic containers including a system for analyzing the degree of contamination of the plastic, a system for determining decontamination process parameters as a function of the degree of contamination thus detected, and a system for controlled decontamination of the plastic according to the decontamination process parameters thus determined. The system for determining decontamination process parameters provides determined decontamination process parameters to corresponding decontamination control elements that are automatically adjusted depending on the degree of contamination.

Abstract: Machine for the inspection and sorting of fruits, which has, connected to a control system, an inspection unit (1) and ejection means (3) which eject the fruits inspected by the inspection unit (1) which do not comply with certain conditions pre-established by the control system. The product transport means have a plurality of rotating rollers (7) which rotate the fruits they transport as they advance, providing multiple views of said fruits to the artificial vision system (4), and a final section for the fall of the fruits with a curved surface with variable decreasing radius. The present invention also consists of a method to inspect and sort fruits which makes them rotate during their transport and inspection and sets their acceleration at the discharge from the machine through a curved surface with decreasing radius.

Abstract: This invention belongs to the technical field of integrated circuit manufacturing and specifically relates to a method for separating carbon nanotube materials with different conductive properties. The method is comprised of: immersing an integrated circuit material containing metallic carbon nanotubes and semiconductor carbon nanotubes into fluid; introducing the fluid into the same container from the same inlet; on the four sides of the container, forming an electric field and arranging a pair of magnetic poles generating magnetic lines vertical to the electric field; changing the direction and intensity of the electric lines of the electric field and those of the magnetic fields to separate the metallic carbon nanotubes from the semiconductor carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the analysis of rocks and rock fragments. A method for the analysis of a rock fragment including: feeding the rock fragment to a microwave irradiation zone of microwave energy generated by a microwave source; gauging energy absorbed by the rock fragment; and correlating rate of change of the gauged energy absorbed by the rock fragment with compositional characteristics of the rock fragment.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sorting mined material, such as mined ore, are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a chamber for exposing fragments of a material to be sorted to electromagnetic radiation, with the chamber comprising an inner wall for fragments to move downwardly and outwardly over from an upper inlet of the chamber to a lower outlet of the chamber. The apparatus also comprises a detection system for assessing one or more than one characteristic of the fragments. The apparatus also comprises a sorting means for separating the fragments into multiple streams in response to the assessment of the detection system.

Abstract: The method and systems efficiently extract recyclable materials from a mixed solid waste stream. The methods and systems use sizing, density and dimensional separation to produce intermediate waste streams that are enriched in particular recyclable materials. The recyclable materials can then be efficiently sorted from the individual intermediate streams using mechanized sorting equipment.

Abstract: A method for separating a mixture of solid materials can includes a sorting step based on differences in X-Ray transmission of different materials and a density sorting step at an elevated density. The mixture of solid materials can be a plastic-rich mixture recovered from waste electrical and electronic equipment. The mixture of solid materials can include plastics that contain brominated flame retardants. In some cases, a XRT or DEXRT sorter is used to remove the majority of plastics that contain brominated flame retardants from the mixture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating non-biogenic plastic from biogenic waste. A stream of waste materials is delivered through an inlet into a conduit in which the biogenic waste drops out the bottom. The non-biogenic plastic is drawn upwardly by a separator in the form of pressurized gas fed tangentially through two ports in an opposite direction with each other to create a vacuum in the conduit.

Abstract: A method for separating particles of different specific gravity from a sized ore feed, wherein the ore can be coal, metallic, non-metallic and mineral ores. The method particles from the ore are sieved to obtain size fractions of different particle size ranges, after which a load of particles of a size fraction are placed in a container and fluidized by passing a fluid flow through the load of particles. By lowering the flow velocity of the fluid through the load the particles are deposited in the container in one or more layers depending on the specific gravity of each of the particles, after which the deposited particles are separated in portions of different specific gravity. The portions represent different ore content of the particles in each portion on basis of which the theoretical yield of the ore can be determined. The invention provides an apparatus to carry out the method.

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: The present invention concerns a method for sizing of mineral matter using a sizing aid additive comprising glycerol and/or at least one polyglycerol allowing the efficiency of air sizing to be increased, or involving a specific sizing energy which is reduced relative to an additive-free air sizing, whilst obtaining a sized mineral matter compatible with an application in an aqueous medium. It also concerns the use of the product obtained in this manner, in paint, plastic, food applications destined for human or animal consumption, pharmaceutical formulation, paper pulp or paper coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to waste screening apparatus and methods, particularly but not exclusively for screening waste material streams for recycling and the like. It also relates to an apparatus for separating portions or fractions of a waste material stream, generally to facilitate recycling of one or more of said fractions, and a method therefor; and to combinations of same.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for separating a material comprising a super absorbent polymer, a fiber and a plastic to separate the material into components thereof, one method comprising shredding the material, adding salt to the material, and agitating the material, wherein the material does not comprise a slurry.

Abstract: Reprocessable medical devices that have been disposed of in a sharps container are recovered, disinfected or sterilized, sorted, and packed for reprocessing in a generally continuous process. In one embodiment, either a sharps container or at least a portion of its contents is successively and controllably conveyed, either manually or automatically, through a plurality of processing stations that are configured to perform different operations. The operations performed by the processing stations can include, for example, detecting and identifying contents, cleaning and disinfecting, opening the sharps containers, separating and sorting their contents, and disposal of contents that are non-reprocessable. Reprocessable medical devices can be sorted by type as they move along on a conveyor.

Abstract: The method and systems efficiently extract recyclable materials from a mixed solid waste stream. The methods and systems use sizing, density and dimensional separation to produce intermediate waste streams that are enriched in particular recyclable materials. The recyclable materials can then be efficiently sorted from the individual intermediate streams using mechanized sorting equipment.

Abstract: The method and systems efficiently extract recyclable materials from a mixed solid waste stream. The methods and systems use sizing, density and dimensional separation to produce intermediate waste streams that are enriched in particular recyclable materials. The recyclable materials can then be efficiently sorted from the individual intermediate streams using mechanized sorting equipment.

Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a plastic content predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.

Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a color predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.

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 method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a target density predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.

Abstract: A wafer separation apparatus improves wafer separation performance in separation and transfer and suppresses the occurrence of wafer breakage in separation and transfer, while remaining inexpensive and small. The apparatus includes: a cassette that vertically accommodates a large number of single wafers in intimate contact with each other, the cassette being at least vertically opened; a cassette support that removably supports the cassette, the cassette support being at least vertically opened; a hoisting unit that hoists and lowers the cassette support integrally with the cassette; a liquid bath that accommodates a liquid into which the cassette support is immersed integrally with the cassette when the hoisting unit descends; a nozzle in the inside of the liquid bath to issue micro bubbles from the underside of the cassette support toward a large number of the wafers; and a micro bubble generator that generates micro bubbles to be issued from the nozzle.

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 for dispersing nanotubes, comprising contacting the nanotubes with an electronic liquid comprising a metal and an amine solvent, a solution of dispersed nanotuhes, comprising individual nanotuhes at a concentration of greater than about 0.01 mgml?1 and a solvent and a nanotube crystal comprising a close packed array of nanotubes, wherein the crystal has a thickness of 100 nm or more are described.

Abstract: A method for sorting nanoobjects from the mixture comprising nanoobjects such as semiconducting and metallic carbon nanotubes and an apparatus fabricated thereby. An embodiment comprises an energy transfer to the mixture in a way that the degree in which nanoonobjects are heated and bonded to the surface of a substance depends on their electrical conductivities. The next embodiment comprises an electrolytic deposition of a material on the mixture in a way that the degree in which nanoanobjects are bonded to the surface of the substance by the deposited layer depends on their electrical conductivities. The above nanoobjects are sorted by selectively separating mostly the weaker bonded nanoobjects from the surface. Another embodiment comprises an energy transfer in a low pressure reactive gas medium to the mixture in a way that the degree in which nanoonobjects are heated and chemically modified depends on their conductivities.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying a reference standard library for thermoplastic content includes preparing a plurality of samples of each one of a plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic, analyzing each of the plurality of samples of each one of the plurality of known ratios of virgin thermoplastic/recycled thermoplastic with at least one of a group of analyses consisting of: a differential scanning calorimetry analysis; a physical thickness analysis; an ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis; an attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis; a mechanical analysis; or a plasma atomic emission spectroscopic analysis.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for separating particles. The process is particularly effective in separating particles such as isotopes of a chemical element. In carrying out the process, at least one particle stream that comprises the particles that are to be separated is contacted with a separate carrier gas stream to produce a mixed stream. A portion of the particles in the mixed stream is magnetically activated, and the magnetically activated particles are separated from non-magnetically activated particles the mixed stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating materials containing a mixture of plastic materials and metal materials, said method including:—crushing the material to be treated; pyrolysis of the crushed material; a first magnetic separation performed on the pyrolysed material providing, on the one hand, a ferrous metal fraction and, on the other hand, non-ferrous residue;—a second magnetic separation performed on the non-ferrous residue providing, on the one hand, a non-ferrous metal fraction and, on the other hand, non-magnetic residue. The invention also relates to a facility for implementing said method.

Abstract: An apparatus for the separation of waste paper includes a slanted conveyor belt with a lower end and an upper end, the upper end being positioned at a height above the lower end, the conveyor belt traveling from the lower end to the upper end. A plurality of drive mechanisms drive the slanted conveyor belt. At least one load mechanism supplies the waste paper at the lower end of the conveyor belt. At least one air pressure system is positioned adjacent to the upper end of the conveyor belt. The plurality of drive mechanisms provide a minimum speed of 3 meters per second.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed generally a biomass conditioning system and methods for conditioning biomass to remove undesirable material for further processing and applications. In some embodiments, the disclosure includes a biomass conditioning system including a conditioning tank, a water input device, a biomass input device, a containment device, a spillway, and a moving separation device. In some embodiments, methods according to the disclosure include pumping water into a conditioning tank, depositing biomass into the conditioning tank, allowing the biomass to soak in the water and separate into a bark portion and a non-bark portion, allowing the bark portion to float to a water line, containing the bark portion to one side of the conditioning tank, moving the bark portion into a bark storage area, separating the non-bark portion into a biomass portion and a debris portion, and moving the conditioned biomass portion into a storage area.

Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a rheology predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.

Abstract: In a method and to an arrangement for treating a light fraction produced during the treatment of plastic-rich waste that is low in metal, at least the following steps are carried out consecutively: the light fraction is stressed by percussion and/or bashing, the light fraction is classified into at least two light fraction classes, at least one light fraction class is separated into at least one dust fraction and at least one other fraction, the separation of the dust fraction taking place over a substantially controlled residence time of the light fraction class in at least one device involved in the separation.

Abstract: A flat-article feed device comprising an unstacker device (4), a conveyor (5) on which the unstacked articles in series and on edge are moved with constant pitch, and a synchronization device (6) interposed between the unstacker device and the conveyor so as to compensate for variations in pitch between consecutive articles. The unstacker device (4) is servo-controlled to unstack a current article in response to a signal indicating detection of the passage of another unstacked article preceding said current article downstream from the unstacker. The synchronization device (6) is arranged to move a plurality of articles at the same time in series and on edge with different respective speed profiles in order to compensate for variations in pitch.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for feeding sheets, booklets or the like having a wider adjustable range according to the thickness of the object than the conventional apparatus, and a system for sorting forwarding documents with the foregoing feeding apparatus. In the feeding apparatus, a moving shaft is supported by a fixed sleeve so as to be movable upward and downward. A main compression coil spring is located between the moving shaft and the fixed base and imparts a main spring force to the moving shaft in order that an overlap feed limiting member is pressed against a conveying belt. A sub compression coil spring imparts an oppositely directed sub spring force to the moving shaft. A position of a pressing washer is displaced downward by a threading engagement of an upper end adjusting bolt, so that even when the spring force of the main compression coil spring is increased, an increased amount is cancelled by an increase in the spring force of the sub compression coil spring.

Abstract: A received banknote processing apparatus having no temporary reserving section has a failure recovery processing unit. The failure recovery processing unit securely recovers the number of banknotes of an accepted transaction together with the determination of the fitness of the banknotes of the accepted transaction in failure recovery processing that is performed when a failure, such as a jam, occurs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating a particle fraction from a particle stream making use of gravitational force and which is performed in a fluid. This provides particle fractions that are collected in respective collecting means. According to the invention the fluid and the collecting means are moved in relation to each other defining a relative direction of movement. There are means provided to limit the movement of the particles to be separated with respect to the fluid in the relative direction of movement. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the use of differences in x-ray linear absorption coefficients to process ore and remove elements with higher atomic number from elements with lower atomic numbers. Use of this dry method at the mine reduces pollution and transportation costs. One example of said invention is the ejection of inclusions with sulfur, silicates, mercury, arsenic and radioactive elements from coal. This reduces the amount and toxicity of coal ash. It also reduces air emissions and the energy required to clean stack gases from coal combustion. Removal of said ejected elements improves thermal efficiency and reduces the pollution and carbon footprint for electrical production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making mounting mats for use in pollution control device.

Abstract: A method for sorting nanoobjects from the mixture comprising nanoobjects such as semiconducting and metallic carbon nanotubes and an apparatus fabricated thereby. An embodiment comprises an energy transfer to the mixture in a way that the degree in which nanoonobjects are heated and bonded to the surface of a substance depends on their electrical conductivities. The next embodiment comprises an electrolytic deposition of a material on the mixture in a way that the degree in which nanoanobjects are bonded to the surface of the substance by the deposited layer depends on their electrical conductivities. The above nanoobjects are sorted by selectively separating mostly the weaker bonded nanoobjects from the surface. Another embodiment comprises an energy transfer in a low pressure reactive gas medium to the mixture in a way that the degree in which nanoonobjects are heated and chemically modified depends on their conductivities.

Abstract: A powder separation apparatus and method are provided so as to be able to accurately separate a raw powder material. This apparatus has a container into which a raw powder material containing a heavy powder and a light powder, and medium particles having a larger particle size than the raw powder material, are supplied; a container shaker for shaking the container; and a gas blower unit for blowing a gas into an interior of a medium particle layer in the container to discharge the light powder with the gas to the outside of the medium particle layer.

Abstract: A method for separating fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes includes exposing a solution containing fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes to a reducing agent and separating the resulting reaction products. An alternate method for separating fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes includes exposing a solution containing fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes to an oxidizing agent and separating the resulting reaction products. A third method for separating fractions of single-walled carbon nanotubes includes exposing a solution containing fractions of substantially non-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes to a charge transfer complex agent and separating the resulting reaction products. These methods allow the production of single-walled carbon nanotubes of approximately 95 to 99% metallic and semiconducting types.

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, apparatus and system for sorting contaminated glass from a stream of glass particles used light of a wavelength suited to inducing fluorescence in the contaminated glass pieces. Automatic cleaning mechanisms are included in some embodiments to facilitate removal of coatings which would prevent the contaminated particles from fluorescing. The identified particles are then automatically separated from the remaining particles.

Abstract: A mail sorting and sequencing system having a number of DPP units cooperating with one another to sort and sequence mail items of three different types of mail. Each DPP unit having: a conveyor system wherein a number of trucks travel along a path; at least three truck feed units communicating with the conveyor system and receiving mail items of a respective type of mail; at least one accumulating device cooperating with the conveyor system to receive mail items released individually by the trucks; and a buffer unit for housing groups of mail items from the accumulating device.

Abstract: A system and method for separating membranes from eggshells including a supply conduit supplying eggshells and eggshell membranes, a pulsed energy separation unit receiving the eggshells and eggshell membranes in a liquid medium and applying pulsed energy thereto via the liquid medium, thereby causing separation between the membranes and the eggshells in the liquid medium and allowing the membranes to move relatively upwardly in the liquid medium and the eggshells to move relatively downwardly in the liquid medium and a separator for separating the membranes from the liquid medium.

Abstract: An electrostatic modification reagent as described herein. The electrostatic modification reagent may be used in an electric separation process for separating components from a mineral ore or sand.

Abstract: A particulate water absorbent resin is obtained by polymerizing an unsaturated monomer so as to form a cross-linked polymer hydrogel and drying and pulverizing the cross-linked polymer hydrogel, and plural classification steps different from each other are carried out so as to remove fine powder. In this manner, the present invention provides the method for classification of particulate water absorbent resin which method allows particulate water absorbent resin having a desired particle diameter range to be efficiently obtained at low cost while securing the high productivity even in case where a larger production equipment is used.

Abstract: To enable high-added-value low-specific-gravity hollow particles to be efficiently mass-produced by using, as a raw material, coal ash discharged when coal is combusted; enriching low-specific-gravity hollow particles contained in the raw material coal ash by classification to reduce the weight of the coal ash to be subjected to wet specific gravity separation; subjecting the raw material coal ash which have been reduced in weight to wet specific gravity separation to obtain low-specific-gravity components; and dehydrating and drying the low-specific-gravity components.