Technique for enhancing the effectiveness of slurried dense media separations

A method for separating a mixture, the method comprising:

• performing one or more coarse classification separations on a slurry including a separation liquid and one or more particulate media materials, wherein performing the one or more coarse classification separations separates from the slurry a coarse fraction containing coarse particles of the one or more media materials, the coarse particles having a particle size greater than a first particle size threshold;
• performing one or more fine classification separations to separate from the slurry a fine fraction containing fine particles of the one or more media materials, the fine particles having a particle size less than a second particle size threshold, wherein the one or more coarse classification separations separating from the slurry a coarse fraction and the one or more fine classification separations to separate from the slurry the fine fraction produce a classified media having a controlled particle size distribution of the particulate media materials;
• combining the classified media with a mixture to be separated to generate a separation mixture, wherein the mixture to be separated includes plastic;
• and
• performing one or more density separations on the separation mixture;
• wherein performing the one or more coarse classification separations on the slurry and the one or more fine classification separations on the slurry or performing the one or more density separations on the separation mixture, comprises:
• separating the slurry or the separation mixture in a first density separator to generate a first fraction and a second fraction;
• separating the first fraction in a second density separator to generate a third fraction;
• recovering liquid from the third fraction;
• combining the recovered liquid and the second fraction;
• and
• separating the second fraction in a third density separator.