Process for separation of dry food and feed materials using a tribo-electrostatic separator device

A process for fractionating a feed mixture having a moisture content from 6% to 8% and comprising protein and at least one of starches, soluble fibers and insoluble fibers using a single step, continuous tribo-electrostatic separation process, comprising:

• a. supplying said feed mixture to a tribo-electrostatic belt separator, said feed mixture comprising pulses, legumes, oilseeds, oilseed meal, fish meal, bone meal, or meat and bone meal (MBM);
• b. simultaneously charging and separating said feed mixture into at least two subfractions, wherein when said feed mixture comprises pulses, legumes, oilseeds or oilseed meal, one of the subfractions is enriched in one of protein, starch and fiber and having a composition different than the feed mixture, or
• wherein when said feed mixture comprises fish meal, bone meal, or meat and bone meal (MBM), one of the subfractions is enriched in protein and having a composition different than the feed mixture, and
• c. operating the tribo-electrostatic belt separator to fractionate the feed mixture, the tribo-electrostatic belt separator comprising:
• i. a first electrode and a second electrode arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline and configured to provide an electric field between the first and second electrodes;
• ii. at least one first roller disposed at a first end of the separator
• iii. at least one second roller disposed at a second end of the separator;
• iv. a continuous belt disposed between the first and second electrodes and supported by the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller;
• and
• V. a separation zone defined by the continuous belt,
• wherein the continuous belt is operated at a belt speed of about 10 to about 25 feet per second.