Systems and methods for cryogenic separation of plant material are provided. A method of cryogenic separation of plant material, includes placing a sieve into a vessel. Plant material is placed in the sieve. Cryogenic fluid is provided at or below −150 degrees Celsius to the sieve. The plant material is agitated within the sieve and the vessel to separate plant particulates solidified by the cryogenic fluid from the remainder of the plant material. The cryogenic fluid and plant particulates are removed from the vessel.

Systems and methods for cryogenic separation of plant material are provided. A method of cryogenic separation of plant material, includes placing a sieve into a vessel. Plant material is placed in the sieve. Cryogenic fluid is provided at or below −150 degrees Celsius to the sieve. The plant material is agitated within the sieve and the vessel to separate plant particulates solidified by the cryogenic fluid from the remainder of the plant material. The cryogenic fluid and plant particulates are removed from the vessel.

A method of separating a shell from a seed may involve introducing a feed stream containing shells of a fruit intermixed with seeds of the fruit into a separation column at a feed stream location. The method may also involve introducing a first volume of a separation liquid into the separation column at a first liquid addition location located below the feed stream location and a second volume of the separation liquid into the separation column at a second liquid addition location located above feed stream location. The separation liquid may flow upwardly in the separation column at a rate effective to cause the seeds of the fruit to flow upwardly with the separation liquid toward a seed outlet of the separation column while the shells of the fruit flow downwardly against the upwardly flowing separation liquid toward a shell outlet of the separation column.

A method of separating a shell from a seed may involve introducing a feed stream containing shells of a fruit intermixed with seeds of the fruit into a separation column at a feed stream location. The method may also involve introducing a first volume of a separation liquid into the separation column at a first liquid addition location located below the feed stream location and a second volume of the separation liquid into the separation column at a second liquid addition location located above feed stream location. The separation liquid may flow upwardly in the separation column at a rate effective to cause the seeds of the fruit to flow upwardly with the separation liquid toward a seed outlet of the separation column while the shells of the fruit flow downwardly against the upwardly flowing separation liquid toward a shell outlet of the separation column.

A multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus 100 is disclosed for separating fiber from a liquid medium during, for example, a grain wet mill or dry grind process. The apparatus includes a housing 106 having first and second zones 108a, 108b situated adjacent one another along a length (L) of the housing 106. First and second screen sections 102a, 102b having a plurality of openings 104 may be situated lengthwise within the housing 106 corresponding with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively. The first and second screen sections 102a, 102b have a circular cross-section, and the second screen section 102b has a larger diameter than the first screen section 102a. An elongated shaft 130 situated lengthwise within the screen sections 102a, 102b includes first and second conveyors 128a, 128b, which correspond with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively, having a plurality of paddles 132. Each conveyor 128a, 128b is configured to move material in a direction along a length of the screen 102a, 102b. There may be more than two zones 108a, 108b.

A multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus 100 is disclosed for separating fiber from a liquid medium during, for example, a grain wet mill or dry grind process. The apparatus includes a housing 106 having first and second zones 108a, 108b situated adjacent one another along a length (L) of the housing 106. First and second screen sections 102a, 102b having a plurality of openings 104 may be situated lengthwise within the housing 106 corresponding with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively. The first and second screen sections 102a, 102b have a circular cross-section, and the second screen section 102b has a larger diameter than the first screen section 102a. An elongated shaft 130 situated lengthwise within the screen sections 102a, 102b includes first and second conveyors 128a, 128b, which correspond with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively, having a plurality of paddles 132. Each conveyor 128a, 128b is configured to move material in a direction along a length of the screen 102a, 102b. There may be more than two zones 108a, 108b.

This invention relates to an inverted up-flow separator, its use in a method of recovering target mineral particles from tailings and a process for the recovery of target mineral particles from tailings using the inverted up-flow separator of the invention.

There is provided a system for treating a combination of a liquid and granular matter, which granular matter is larger than or equal to a minimum grain size and comprises two or more types of granular matter with different densities, wherein at least two of the different types of granular matter have densities being larger than the density of the liquid. The system comprises a stratification machine with a stratification or sorting chamber for holding the combination of liquid and granular matter, which stratification or sorting chamber has one or more side walls. The stratification machine also holds a movable plate arranged within the stratification or sorting chamber, where the moveable plate has sieve openings smaller than the minimum grain size of the granular matter to be treated to thereby maintain the granular matter above or on top of the movable plate. The stratification machine further holds a drive system for moving the movable plate in vertical upwards and downwards movements within the stratification or sorting chamber to thereby exercise or treat the granular matter within the liquid. There is also provided a method for treating the combination of a liquid and granular matter. The granular matter may include or consist of polymer granular matter.

Systems and methods for separating heavier from lighter materials in mixed auto shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles. Vehicles are shredded and the resulting mixed ASR is fed into a system that efficiently segregates heavier (typically metal) from lighter (typically plastic) pieces. The system has an inlet feed chute angled downward to a lower end over a separator tank filled with water. One or more nozzles configured to introduce water at a velocity into the separator tank create a flow of water across the tank to push smaller and lighter particles over an exit weir. Heavier particles sink toward a heavy matter removal conveyor having a lower end positioned within the separator tank so that the heavier particles are transported upward out of the separator tank. The heavy matter removal conveyor may be one or more Archimedes screws, a flat, ribbed or cleated conveyor, or a drag chain.

Systems and methods for separating heavier from lighter materials in mixed auto shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles. Vehicles are shredded and the resulting mixed ASR is fed into a system that efficiently segregates heavier (typically metal) from lighter (typically plastic) pieces. The system has an inlet feed chute angled downward to a lower end over a separator tank filled with water. One or more nozzles configured to introduce water at a velocity into the separator tank create a flow of water across the tank to push smaller and lighter particles over an exit weir. Heavier particles sink toward a heavy matter removal conveyor having a lower end positioned within the separator tank so that the heavier particles are transported upward out of the separator tank. The heavy matter removal conveyor may be one or more Archimedes screws, a flat, ribbed or cleated conveyor, or a drag chain.