Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for recycling battery cells and/or battery cell assemblies for metallurgical recovery. In some embodiments, the battery cells and/or battery cell assemblies can be discharged/deactivated, reduced to smaller pieces, thermally decomposed, and then sorted into different component materials.

Abstract: A method for the automated recovery of rare earth permanent magnets from electric machines are provided. The method includes identifying electric machines in a mixed product stream for performing a unique robotic disassembly routine. Electric machines that are not identified are diverted to a robot training station, during which time the system and the method include implementing a suitable disassembly routine. A conveyor delivers the remaining electric machines to a rotary platform having multiple stations for the simultaneous disassembly of multiple electric machines. Permanent magnets are removed from the electric machines and are then sorted for recycling operations.

Abstract: Classifying tanks, related systems and methods of operating the same are described. Some classifying tank embodiments facilitate the use of a control system and methods to perform one or more of the following tracking the product discharged, performing optimization routines, and determining new settings for a plurality of stations of the classifying tank.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for separating waste stream with high glass concentrations to recover desired materials are described. The devices, systems, and methods may include a wet separator, a multi-stage screen(s), shredder(s), rising velocity separator(s)/jig(s), magnetic pulley(s), eddy current separator(s), and/or optical sorters.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating plastic and cellulose from post-consumer absorbent sanitary products. The method includes sterilizing successive batches of post-consumer absorbent sanitary products in at least one rotary autoclave. The method further includes shredding the sterilized absorbent sanitary products and obtaining sterilized and shredded material containing plastic and cellulose. The method further includes drying the sterilized and shredded material containing plastic and cellulose, and separating cellulose from plastic from said sterilized, shredded and dried material in at least one centrifugal separator.

Abstract: A method for releasing impurities from a calcium-based mineral is described. The method comprises reacting a calcium-based mineral containing impurities with an aqueous solution of one or more ionic salts at a temperature of approximately 85° C. or above, wherein at least one of the calcium-based mineral and the one or more ionic salts comprises sulphate and at least one of the calcium-based mineral and the one or more ionic salts comprises ammonium, and wherein the concentration of the solution is approximately 25% or higher mass fraction, such that double salt crystals are formed and impurities are released. The method further comprises separating the double salt crystals from the impurities. Various products of the process are also described.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include devices, systems, methods, and control systems for processing waste into usable products, such as fuel stock, soil additives, and usable byproducts. Various system components may include: 1) a material loading area; 2) a pre-shredder; 3) a magnet based separator; 4) an eddy current separator; 5) additional sorting devices, such as a ballistic separator and/or an optical separator; 6) a mechanical pulverizer, such as a vertical shaft impactor (VSI); 7) a moisture separation device, such as a cyclone; 8) a compressor, such as a ram baler; 9) a packager, such as a bale wrapper; 10) analyzers, such as for moisture and caloric data analysis; 11) a thermal pressure chamber, such as a thermal screw; and 12) a control system to control operation of the system.

Abstract: THIS invention relates to an integrated process for recovering the valuable iron fraction from low grade iron ore, including the steps of: comminution 14 and classification 36/39 to obtain a classified fraction suitable for coarse flotation and classified fraction suitable for fine beneficiation; subjecting the fraction suitable for coarse flotation to coarse flotation 40 to obtain an intermediate iron concentrate 42 and a coarse sand residue 44; grinding the intermediate concentrate to a size suitable for fine beneficiation; and subjecting the fractions suitable for fine beneficiation to fine beneficiation 46 and obtaining a final iron concentrate 48 and a fine tailings 50.

Abstract: The present invention has developed, unlike a conventional technology, an apparatus and a technique for rind, inside and scrap separation, which has been the greatest impediment to the mass production of high-quality paper-making pulp, thereby enabling the production of high-quality pulp, enables produced, unbleached pulp to be used as a raw material for manufacturing industrial packaging paper because of the excellent strength of the pulp, allows bleached corn chemical pulp to be suitable for the manufacture of toilet and facial papers and tissues, and can be applied to various paper-making techniques by mixing pulps, having different characteristics, such as needle bleached chemical pulp, leaf bleached chemical pulp, and bleached chemical thermomechanical pulp (BCTMP).

Abstract: A device for monitoring the effectiveness of sand compaction on a production line comprising one or more sensors. The sensor's response measures the changes in sand compaction, which is affected by the mechanics of the vibration system, changes in the sand properties, and environmental changes. A sensor comprises multiple chambers where the sand is compacted, with each of these chambers having a different difficulty in resisting sand filling and compaction. The difficulty of filling and compacting the sand in these chambers can be controlled using factors such as geometry of each of the chambers and direction of the fill and compaction of sand.

Abstract: THIS invention relates to a process for recovering value metals from ore (50) configured such as to substantively reduce or eliminate the need for a tailings storage facility. This object is achieved through an integrated processing system designed to enhance the ratio of sand residue from coarse flotation (62) to the amount of tailings arising from fine flotation (72), and then blending a proportion of coarse and fine flotation gangue materials into a free draining stack (82).

Abstract: A grinding circuit comprises a grinding mill having a shaft in a grinding chamber, a cyclone for receiving circuit feed material and for feeding said circuit feed material further in the grinding circuit, and monitoring devices. The grinding mill process comprises pumping circuit feed material from a feed tank to the cyclone upstream of the mill, and pumping the circuit feed material forming slurry into the grinding mill for grinding the slurry into finer particles. The method of controlling the grinding mill process comprises monitoring at least one operational parameter, and controlling particle fineness online by adjusting at least one of the following operational parameters: flow rate of the circuit feed material, density of the circuit feed material, shaft speed, filling rate in the grinding mill, milling density and retention time.

Abstract: An analyte capture device and related systems and methods are provided. The analyte capture device includes a glass material, an outer surface defined by the glass material, and a plurality of pores formed in the glass material along at least a portion of the outer surface. The analyte capture device is exposed to an environment containing an analyte for a period of time such that the analyte is captured within the plurality of pores of the glass material. The concentration of the analyte within the glass material is greater than a concentration of the analyte within the environment. The analyte capture device is then removed from the environment, and a property of the analyte within the analyte capture device is detected via an analyte detection system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for disposal of waste containing food waste or livestock manure and production of energy and a method therefor, wherein the system can dispose of waste, such as food waste or livestock manure, without using chemical additives or a precipitation bath generally used for disposal of wastewater, and can allow separation of wastewater and solid organic substances from the waste, disposal thereof, and then recycling thereof, respectively.

Abstract: A method for concentrating a particular component in powder by performing a mechanical dry processing on powder formed by granulating a solution containing two or more components, producing chips in a fine-powder form by chipping away at particle surfaces of the powder where a larger amount of the particular component is contained than particle interior portions of the powder, classifying the powder into fine powder containing the chips and coarse powder containing particles whose surfaces have been chipped away, and collecting the fine powder containing the particular component.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, single phase aqueous solutions, process mixtures, and kits are provided relating to recycling a fibrous surface covering, e.g., carpet, using a single-phase aqueous solution. For example, a method of recycling a fibrous surface covering may include providing the single phase aqueous solution. The single phase aqueous solution may include water and a surfactant composition. The method may include providing the fibrous surface covering. The fibrous surface covering may include: a fibrous surface layer; a first backing coupled to the fibrous surface layer; and a binder coupled to one or more of the first backing and the fibrous surface layer. The method may include contacting the single phase aqueous solution and the fibrous surface covering to form a process mixture under conditions effective to provide a recycled portion of the fibrous surface covering.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a method for processing metallized packaging materials, especially beverage cartons, or blister packaging. According to the invention, the aluminum is dissolved with the aid of acid and separated from the plastic. The metal-containing acid solution then undergoes pyrohydrolytic treatment and the acid is thus recovered. The aluminum can be recovered as valuable aluminum oxide.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to apply a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct. The apparatus includes a fragmenting chamber where the agricultural byproduct is fragmented into particles. An initial amount of a treatment agent is applied to the byproduct in the fragmenting chamber. Particles of a desired size flow through a screen from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone. A second amount of the treatment agent is applied to the particles in the recovery zone. A regulator regulates the amount of the treatment agent applied to the particles in the fragmenting chamber and the amount of treatment agent applied in the recovery zone. The regulation may be based on one or more feedback mechanisms.

Abstract: A process for recovering a primary polymer concentrate stream is provided. The process comprises routing a second mother liquor stream to a primary concentration zone to remove water from the second mother liquor stream to produce the primary polymer concentrate stream; wherein the primary concentration zone comprises at least one ultrafiltration membrane. A process is also provided to recover sulfopolyester from the primary polymer concentrate stream and to produce articles therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering individual polymers, such as nylon and polyolefin, from a nylon-containing source such as a carpet. The process includes the steps of shredding a nylon fiber source such as a carpet wherein the shredding is conducted in the presence of a liquid that wets the carpet, granulating the wet shredded carpet slurry, further diluting the granulated slurry by adding additional water, subsequently refining the fibers and removing substantial amounts of polypropylene fibers from the slurry, preferably using a lamella clarifier, and recovering the nylon fibers by hydrocloning the slurry.

Abstract: A device for removing impurities from shredded plastic has a first and second cleaning disk with first and second cleaning surfaces, the cleaning surfaces are opposite each other and delimit a cleaning gap. A drive device rotates the cleaning disks, and shredded plastic is fed between the cleaning disks. The cleaning surfaces have a plurality of cleaning ribs extending between an inner and outer edge of the cleaning surfaces, wherein at least one flank of the cleaning ribs is angled or curved relative to the axial direction of the respective cleaning disk, and a plurality of cleaning bars running transversally to the direction of extension of the cleaning ribs are arranged between at least some cleaning ribs neighboring each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mineral processing technology and method for refractory chalcopyrite ores, particularly to a mineral processing technology and method for the separation of chalcopyrite from multiple natural types of copper ores containing chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, talc and serpentine, which belongs to the technical field of mineral processing. It's characterized by: conducting a two-stage grinding on the chalcopyrite ore, with each grinding stage followed by size grading, and treating ores in different size fractions separately, wherein coarse-grain ores are separated in the presence of xanthate, with calcium oxide and CMC controlling the pH and acting as depressor respectively, while fine-grained ores are subjected to rougher in the presence of kerosene, and subsequently subjected to cleaner in the presence of xanthate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a progressive method of separating and extracting raw materials from residential roofing products for re-use as ingredients for asphalt and fiberglass related products, including roofing materials. The method includes reduction, separation and then extraction of raw materials. The resulting products are alternative roofing granules, asphalt coated limestone, limestone, recycled asphalt and recycled fiberglass strand powders.

Abstract: A method for solid waste separation and processing (10) comprising the method steps of: (a) Passing a municipal solid waste (12) to a first size based separation step (14) producing at least a fine organic fraction (16) and a coarse fraction (18); (b) Passing the fine organic fraction (16) to a digestion process (20) by way of a glass and grit separation step (24); and (c) Recirculating the coarse fraction (18) of step (a) through the first size based separation step (14) at least once.

Abstract: A grinding process, in a grinding unit including a first shop including a first mill and a first separator, an outlet from the first mill being connected to an inlet of the first separator; a second shop including a second separator and a second mill, an outlet from the second separator being connected to an inlet of the second mill; the second separator being fed by the material coming from the first separator, wherein the first separator is operated at a tangential speed of 15 to 25 m/s and a radial speed of 3.5 to 5 m/s; and the second separator is operated at a tangential speed of 20 to 50 m/s and a radial speed of 2.5 to 4 m/s.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the extractable rubber content of non-Hevea plant matter that entail the use of particular forms of hammer milling and/or roller milling in an increase in the amount of rubber that can be extracted from the resulting plant matter such as by organic solvent extraction or aqueous extraction are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods are for increasing the extractable rubber content of guayule plant matter, and entail the use of particular forms of hammer milling in combination with roller milling and flaking to increase the amount of rubber that can be extracted from the guayule plant matter such as by organic solvent extraction or aqueous extraction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cementitious composition adapted to form mortars or cements comprising glass as an additive having reduced tendency to reaction with alkali, characterised in that said glass is obtained by grinding and subsequent washing with water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the losses of valuable substances in mineral processing, wherein a mineral mixture, dry or suspended, has a grain fraction with a tailings portion and a superficial valuable material portion after a first separation stage, and the tailings portion quantitatively exceeds the valuable material portion, the mineral mixture being suspended, insofar as it is not already a suspension, for the agglomeration of grains of the grain fraction with the valuable material portion, and a substantially hydrophobic agent with a content of anionic or cationic amphiphilic molecules is added to the suspended mineral mixture in order to wet the surface of the valuable substance portion to form agglomeration bridges between the valuable material portions of the grains, wherein the mineral mixture is routed in a solution saturated with the valuable material portion and the tailings to a wet separation stage for classification into a fraction richer in valuable material and a fraction l

Abstract: A biomass hydrothermal decomposition apparatus includes, a biomass feeder (31) that feeds biomass material (11) under normal pressure to under increased pressure, a hydrothermal decomposition device (42A) that allows the fed biomass material (11) to be gradually moved inside a device main body (42A) from either end thereof in a consolidated condition, and also allows hot compressed water (15) to be fed from an other end of a feed section for the biomass material into the main body (42A), so as to cause the biomass material (11) and the hot compressed water (15) to countercurrently contact with each other and undergo hydrothermal decomposition, and that elutes a lignin component and a hemicellulose component into the hot compressed water, so as to separate the lignin component and the hemicellulose component from the biomass material (11); and a biomass discharger (51) that discharges, from the side where the hot compressed water is fed into the device main body, a biomass solid residue (17) under increased pr

Abstract: Underwater mineral dressing units, systems and methods are provided. Material is milled in a water-immiscible liquid which is heavier than water and lighter than the product material. Gangue material is removed by the milling and floats on the water-immiscible liquid to be removed without further processing. Product containing material sinks and is further milled to remove additional gangue material, until the required level of extraction is achieved. Cascades of milling rolls in the water-immiscible liquid allow ever improving extraction of the product material. The rolls are arranged to regulate material flow through the system to remove floating gangue while directing sinking product material to further processing.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes improved systems and methods for recycling, including an improved method of recycling one or more polymers from a flooring material that has been contacted with a solvent to provide a reclaimed polymer composition. The improved method, in one embodiment, includes prior to the step of contacting the flooring material with the solvent, cutting the flooring material into portions that provide substantially complete contact between the flooring material and the solvent. The improved method, in this embodiment, further includes following the step of contacting the flooring material with the solvent, contacting the portions of flooring material with a mechanical disruptor that both pulls and separates the one or polymers concurrently in at least two different vectors for a time sufficient to separate the one or more polymers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a progressive method of separating and extracting raw materials from residential roofing products for re-use as ingredients for asphalt and fiberglass related products, including roofing materials. The method includes reduction, separation and then extraction of raw materials. The resulting products are alternative roofing granules, asphalt coated limestone, limestone, recycled asphalt and recycled fiberglass strand powders.

Abstract: Inorganic fiber having the following composition ratio and comprising 40 wt % or less of shots each having a diameter of 45 ?m or more: [Composition ratio of inorganic fiber] SiO2 66 to 82 wt %; CaO 10 to 34 wt %; MgO 0 to 3 wt %; Al2O3 0 to 5 wt %; and the total of SiO2, CaO, MgO and Al2O3 is 98 wt % or more.

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 process for converting, separating and removing conversion products from grain endosperm using a contained reaction vessel to effect conversions and extractions. The process minimizes particulate interference with equipment, thereby lowering operating and capital expense. Successive conversion and extraction processes reuse major system parts in each step.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating components of post-consumer carpet—pile, adhesive, and primary/secondary backings—may initially comprise spectrographic face fiber identification. Separating substantial portions of pile from backing comprises feeding carpeting into a rotating pinned drum, with separated pile U's dropping, while a residual composition, being primarily backing, travels with the drum, to be separated therefrom using vacuum pressure, with the composite backing being sent to a press. Vacuum pressure delivers the separated U's to a spinning perforated squirrel cage to remove dislodged pieces of adhesive, by vacuum pressure applied to an interior top portion of the cage to draw pieces therein. Rotating the perforated squirrel cage, which is sealed on the exterior using a belt, permits the U's to drop into a hopper. A mesh shaker box vibrates to separate any remaining backing from the pile U's. Hammers in a fibermill remove remaining adhesive attached to the separated pile U fiber.

Abstract: A machine is employed for recovering heavy metals and precious or semi precious minerals, such as gold, copper, lead, diamonds, and garnets from placer, or hard rock ore. The machine employs a cylindrical, annular outer drum mounted for rotation at an inclination to the horizontal and including at least one spiral vane extending the length of its inner surface. A cylindrical, annular inner barrel is mounted within the drum and has an upper fragmentation section, an intermediate screened section, and a lower discharge section. A spray of water is directed into the inner barrel and a water spray bar is located in the annulus between the inner barrel and the outer drum. A fine sluice box is located to receive under one-quarter material input from a side trommel and a coarse sluice box located to receive discharge from the side trommel and discharge from the fine sluice box. The sluice box includes a plurality of landings, matting and screens upon which heavy materials, such as gold or precious stones, collect.

Abstract: A method for recycling materials having an affixed label is disclosed. The present invention also includes labels and adhesives that is readily removable from a material during a process for recycling the material.

Abstract: A system and a method for separating rare earth element compounds from a slurry of mixed rare earth element compounds, comprising flowing the slurry of mixed rare earth element compounds through at least a first channel rigged with at least a first magnet along a length thereof and connected to at least a first output channel at the position of the magnet, and retrieving individual rare earth element compounds and/or groups of rare earth element compounds, separated from the slurry as they are selectively attracted by the magnet and directed in the corresponding output channel according to their respective ratio of magnetic susceptibility (??) to specific density (??).

Abstract: In a process for producing a particulate polysaccharide derivative by dry-grinding a moist polysaccharide derivative the median length of the particles after dry-grinding is controlled by controlling the moisture content of the polysaccharide derivative prior to dry-grinding. Advantageously the median length of the particles after dry-grinding is adjusted to a first value by a first moisture content of the polysaccharide derivative prior to dry-grinding and is adjusted to a second value by a second moisture content.

Abstract: Materials in battery and electrochemical cells are separated in a form suitable for recycling by employing froth flotation techniques. Bulk materials, such as casings, are removed from converted battery scrap and the resultant pulp is subjected to froth flotation. Froth flotation agents, including frothers, collectors and/or depressants, are used to manipulate the hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature of the materials in the scrap. Hydrophobic materials are entrained in the air bubbles of the froth and float out of the froth flotation vessel while those that are hydrophilic remain in the vessel, thereby separating battery grid materials without resort to pyrometallurgical, energy intensive or other environmentally undesirable processes.

Abstract: A machine is employed for recovering heavy metals and precious or semi precious minerals, such as gold, copper, lead, diamonds, and garnets from placer, or hard rock ore. The machine employs a cylindrical, annular outer drum mounted for rotation at an inclination to the horizontal and including at least one spiral vane extending the length of its inner surface. A cylindrical, annular inner barrel is mounted within the drum and has an upper fragmentation section, an intermediate screened section, and a lower discharge section. A spray of water is directed into the inner barrel and a water spray bar is located in the annulus between the inner barrel and the outer drum. A fine sluice box is located to receive under one-quarter material input from a side trommel and a coarse sluice box located to receive discharge from the side trommel and discharge from the fine sluice box. The sluice box includes a plurality of landings, matting and screens upon which heavy materials, such as gold or precious stones, collect.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an advantageous and effective process for the concentration of iron ores, which can be fully dry or mixed, part of the process being dry, part wet. The invention thereby improves process efficiency as a whole by increasing recovery of concentrators and increasing the useful life of the mines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to labels having one or more information dyes and methods for their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of technical textiles based on thermoplastic fibers and comprising a coating, such as, in particular, airbags, using the principle of centrifugal decanting to separate the fiber residues and the coating material. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of a thermoplastic composition, in particular for molding, obtained by use of the fiber residues as obtained and optionally of reinforcing fillers. The distinguishing feature of this invention is based on the preparation of the fabric devoid of coating, thus resulting in formulations with elevated mechanical performances.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing and sorting a municipal solid waste stream are described herein. A system can include a processing sub-system configured to receive a municipal solid waste stream and to remove the non-processable waste, a processing apparatus configured and disposed to receive constituents of the municipal solid waste stream from the processing sub-system and reduce the size of the constituents of the waste stream to an average particle size of less than about ¾ inch, and separators configured to sort the waste stream into constituents based on density.

Abstract: Solid waste that includes a mixture of wet organic material and dry organic material can be are separated using mechanical separation to produce a wet organic stream enriched in wet organics and a dry organic stream enriched in dry organics. The separated wet organic stream and dry organic stream are separately converted to renewable or recyclable products using different conversion techniques particularly suited for the separated wet and dry organic streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pulper comprising a supply chamber (2) and a displacement chamber (3) for handling materials in an especially gentle manner, having a diameter between the supply chamber and the displacement chamber that is at most ? of the diameter of the displacement chamber (3).

Abstract: A system for shredding medical waste, the system comprising a medical waste treating chamber (4) being an interior of an enclosure disposed within an environment which is not to be polluted, a motor (11a), a shredder (2) seated in the chamber and including a motor-driven shaft (17) and blades rotated by the shaft, the shaft (17) extending through the enclosure thereby to define an interface between the waste treating chamber (4) and the environment, and interface seal apparatus (101) preventing leakage of at least fluids from the medical waste treating chamber into the environment, via the interface.

Abstract: A method of treating an adsorbent for a chromatographic separation. The method involves sonicating particles of an inorganic metal oxide having fragile edges in the absence of any alkylating or acylating agent to form smoothened particles of the inorganic metal oxide and washing the smoothened particles of the inorganic metal oxide to remove fine particulate matter to produce a treated adsorbent. The treated adsorbent can be used in a method of isolating a daughter radioisotope from a daughter radioisotope that is produced from the parent radioisotope by radioactive decay.