Material separation efficiency determination employing fluorescing control particles
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsColin D. Chriswell, Richard Markuszewski, William H. Buttermore
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Abstract
An improved material separation system and method utilizing control particles of generally known physical characteristics as tracer particles through the separation process. The control particles are generally the same or similar to the materials being separated and are coated with or bonded to a fluorescing dye. The control particles are mixed with the material to be separated prior to separation. The mixture is imposed with a energy source which excites the fluorescent dye causing fluorescing emission. The fluorescing emission is detected at the output of the separation of the mixture to determine if the separation is operating efficiently and as desired.
Claims36
A method for improved material separation comprising:
- bonding a fluorescing dye to control particles of the material, the control particles having generally known and generally consistent physical properties;
- mixing the control particles into the material which is to be separated on the basis of at least one physical property;
- separating the material by a physical property;
- imposing upon the separated material energy of sufficient properties to excite the fluorescing dye on the control particles;
- and
- monitoring the separated material to detect the presence of and the amount of excited fluorescence to determine the amount of control particles in the separated material and to determine if the separation process is adequately separating the material.
A means for improved material separation comprising:
- transport means for conveying material to be separated to a material separation apparatus;
- injection means for mixing control particles into the material to be separated prior to entering the separation apparatus the control particles being of generally known and generally consistent physical properties, and carrying a fluorescing dye thereon;
- and
- detector means positioned at one or more output locations of the separating apparatus to monitor the output of the material separation apparatus, the detector means including a source of energy of sufficient properties to excite the fluorescing dye on the control particles, and a monitoring detector of the emitted fluorescing radiation from the excited fluorescing dye on the control particles.
A method for improved separation of materials comprising:
- pre-processing a material for preparation for separation;
- preparing control particles of generally the same material as the material to be separated, the control particles being of generally known physical characteristics and predictable separation characteristics;
- attaching to the control particles a fluorescent dye;
- mixing the control particles with the attached fluorescent dye into the material to be separated;
- separating the mixture on a continuous basis;
- imposing energy of appropriate properties to excite the fluorescent dye in the control particles onto the mixture;
- detecting, after separation of the mixture, at a chosen output of the separation, the intensity of emitted fluorescence from the excited fluorescent dye of the control particles;
- determining from the intensity measurements whether separation is being performed efficiently;
- and
- adjusting the separation to optimize efficiency in response to the intensity measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.