Method and apparatus for liberating particles from moist MSWI ash

An apparatus for liberating particles from a moist MSWI ash material having particles with differing dimensions, the apparatus comprising:

• a feeder and a striking body, the feeder for feeding an amount of the moist MSWI ash material in a particle stream to the striking body, the striking body comprising a rotating drum having at least one hitting surface extending radially from an outer surface of the rotating drum, wherein the rotating drum comprising the at least one hitting surface strikes the particle stream towards a receiving area;
• a receiving body in a receiving area having a single movable surface in the receiving area for receiving substantially a whole of the particle stream on the single movable surface of the receiving body after the particle stream has been struck by the striking body, wherein the receiving body includes an outlet beyond the receiving area where substantially the whole of the particle stream is divided into a first particle stream fraction rich of particles of a first group of particle dimensions and at least a second particle stream fraction rich of particles of a second group of particle dimensions, wherein the second particle stream fraction is substantially depleted of particles of the first group of particle dimensions, wherein the single movable surface comprises a first section located nearest to the striking body and a second section located nearest to the outlet, wherein the first section of the of the single movable surface is inclined upward to about 15 degrees relative to horizontal, and wherein the second section of the single movable surface is at least one of horizontal or sloped downward;
• a first collection area located further away from the outlet to which the first particle stream is discharged;
• and
• a second collection area that that is located more closely to the outlet to which the second particle stream is discharged.