Process for separating materials
AssigneeImpact Laboratories Ltd.
InventorsSurya Vesavkar, Steven Andrew Burns, Ian Vallance
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for separating a mixture of materials using a segregation media within a vessel having a central baffle structure which shuggles the mixture by oscillating the baffle structure at a frequency and amplitude. The mixture of materials may have overlapping densities with the segregation media having a density within the overlapping region. Polymers PE and PP may be separated in flake form. For a mixture of materials of differing densities, water may be the segregation media. Shuggling is combined with controlling the flow of water through the vessel at a set velocity. Embodiments are described for separating plastics and mineral ore.
Claims16
A process for the separation of materials in a mixture of materials, comprising:
- a.) introducing a mixture of at least two materials of chemically different type into a vessel;
- b.) introducing a segregation media to the vessel;
- c.) without rotation of said vessel, oscillating a centrally located baffle structure in the vessel longitudinally on its own central axis at a first frequency and a first amplitude, without rotation of said baffle structure about said central axis, and wherein said baffle structure comprises a central shaft upon which are located a plurality of discs, the discs including one or more pathways therethrough for the passage of vessel contents;
- and
- d.) causing shuggling in the vessel through the oscillating baffle structure so as to result in separation of the at least two materials within the vessel, and removing the separated materials from the vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.