Method of separating resource materials from solid waste

A method of separating resource materials of preselected composition from a heterogenous mixture of materials, with the materials in such mixture in the form of dry, loose particles of uniform size and configuration, comprising the steps of

• introducing the heterogenous mixture of materials to a first fluid flow separator assembly and passing separation fluid through said first fluid flow separator assembly in streams of predetermined flow rates and velocities so as to divide such mixture of materials into a first stream of particles of highest density, a first stream of particles of lowest density, and a first stream of particles of intermediate density;
• combining said first stream of particles of highest density and said first stream of particles of intermediate density into a first combined stream;
• introducing said first combined stream into a second fluid flow separator assembly and passing separation fluid through said second fluid flow separator assembly in streams of predetermined flow rates and velocities so as to entrain divide said first combined stream into a second stream of particles of highest density, a second stream of particles of lowest density, and a second stream of particles of intermediate density;
• combining said second stream of particles of highest density and said second stream of particles of intermediate density into a second combined stream;
• introducing said first stream of particles of lowest density to a third fluid flow separator assembly and passing separation fluid through said third fluid flow separator assembly in streams of predetermined flow rates and velocities so as to entrain divide such mixture of materials into a third stream of particles of highest density, a third stream of particles of lowest density, and a third stream of particles of intermediate density;
• combining said third stream of particles of highest density and said third stream of particles of highest density and intermediate density, respectively, into a third combined stream;
• introducing said third combined stream into a fourth fluid flow separator assembly and passing separation fluid through said fourth fluid flow separator assembly in streams of predetermined flow rates and velocities so as to entrain divide said first combined stream into a fourth stream of particles of highest density, a fourth stream of particles of lowest density, and a fourth stream of particles of intermediate density;
• combining said fourth stream of particles of highest density and said fourth stream of particles of intermediate density into a fourth combined stream;
• introducing said third stream of particles of lowest density to a fifth fluid flow separator assembly and passing separation fluid through said fifth fluid flow separator assembly in streams of predetermined flow rates and velocities so as to entrain divide such mixture of materials into a fifth stream of particles of highest density, a fifth stream of particles of lowest density, and a fifth stream of particles of intermediate density;
• combining said fifth stream of particles of highest density and said fifth stream of particles of highest density and intermediate density, respectively, into a fifth combined stream;
• introducing said fifth combined stream into a sixth fluid flow separator assembly and passing separation fluid through said sixth fluid flow separator assembly in streams of predetermined flow rates and velocities so as to divide said first combined stream into a sixth stream of particles of highest density, a sixth stream of particles of lowest density, and a sixth stream of particles of intermediate density;
• combining said sixth stream of particles of highest density and said sixth stream of particles of intermediate density into a sixth combined stream;
• routing said fifth stream of particles of lowest density for use or storage of such materials;
• introducing said second combined stream, from said second fluid flow separator assembly, to a first secondary stage separator assembly and dividing said second combined stream into a plurality of final particle streams each including particles having densities within a preselected discrete range, and routing each of said final particle streams from said first secondary stage separator assembly for use or storage;
• introducing said fourth combined stream, from said fourth fluid separator assembly, to a second secondary stage separator assembly and dividing said fourth combined stream into a plurality of final particle streams each including particles having densities within a preselected discrete range, and routing each of said final particle streams from said second secondary stage separator assembly for use or storage;
• introducing said sixth combined stream, from said sixth fluid flow separator assembly, to a third secondary stage separator assembly and dividing said sixth combined stream into a plurality of final particle streams each including particles having densities within a preselected discrete range, and routing each of said final particle streams from said third secondary stage separator assembly for use or storage.