A method and system for air classification of a milled feed stock includes generating a feed stream by combining the milled feed stock with at least one gasflow element, wherein the milled feed stock includes a plurality of particle sizes. The method and system includes directing the feed stream across a curvilinear surface, such that the milled feed stock in the feed stream separates into a plurality of classification streams, each of the plurality of classification streams based on the particle sizes of the milled feed stock. Therein, the method and system separates the plurality of classification streams and collects each of the plurality of classification streams, thereby classifying the milled feed stock contained therein based on the particle sizes for each of the plurality of classification streams.

The process for the dry fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass of at least 50% by weight of lignins, cellulose and hemicelluloses. The biomass is fragmented to obtain an ultrafine powder. The process includes at least one step of separating a fraction enriched with cellulose and a fraction enriched with lignin, hemicelluloses and minerals by electrostatic sorting of the ultrafine particles. Preferably, the fraction separation step includes a step of triboelectrostatic charging of ultrafine particles and at least one step of deviating a path in the electric field of the charged particles to sort the particles.

A tribo-electrostatic separation process and system for the preparation of various food and feed products. A tribo-electric separation process and system for fractionating a feed mixture comprising at least two members of the group of proteins, starches, soluble and insoluble fibers. Namely, supplying a feed mixture comprising at least two of the group of proteins, starches, soluble and insoluble fibers to a tribo-electric separator and simultaneously charging and separating the feed mixture into at least two subfractions, with one of the subfractions enriched in one of protein, starch and fiber and having a composition different than the feed mixture.

An installation intended to separate the components of a mixture containing fibers (2) and granules (3) is provided. The installation comprises a tribocharger (4) for conferring an electrostatic charge upon the components (2, 3), and at least one pair of electrodes (5, 6) for generating a separating electric field that conveys the charged components, according to their polarity, up to collectors (10, 11). The tribocharger (4) has a containment grating (14) arranged so as to retain the components in the tribocharger (4) until the components (2, 3) have reached a sufficient charge, then to allow the components, once charged, through into the gap (7), from which point the components (2, 3) reach their collector (10, 11) under the effect of the separating electric field.

A particle fractionating apparatus is described that can sort droplets containing particles in a first mode of operation, and distribute droplets that do not contain particles to a plurality of locations in a second mode of operation. The modes of operation are selectable by a user. Droplets may be emitted from a microchip of the particle fractionating apparatus.

Methods are provided for removing fine particles from crude oils extracted from mined oil sands using a non-aqueous extraction solvent. A bitumen derived from non-aqueous extraction of oil from oil sands can undergo optional physical separation to remove larger particles and then processed using electrostatic filtration to remove particle fines. This can allow for production of a bitumen product from a non-aqueous extraction process that has a sufficiently low particle content to be suitable for pipeline transport.

An apparatus for separating the main component constituting a raw material from impurities includes: a raw material supply unit for supplying a raw material; a charging unit for charging the raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit; an electrostatic sorting unit for sorting the raw material, which has been charged by the charging unit, according to polarity; and a storage unit for collecting the raw material sorted by and falling from the electrostatic sorting unit, wherein the charging unit includes a charging chamber having a space therein for charging the raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit, and a charging rotor rotatably provided in the charging chamber, for impacting the raw material supplied from the raw material supply unit by the rotating force, thus effectively separating the impurities such as ash and sulfur contained in a raw material, e.g. coal.

A method for recovering metallic materials from crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules. The method includes removing aluminium frames and junction boxes from the photovoltaic modules to provide photovoltaic sandwich structures. The method further includes shredding the photovoltaic sandwich structures to form photovoltaic sandwich structure particles and electrostatically separating the photovoltaic sandwich structure particles into a first fraction and a second fraction with an electrostatic separator. The method further includes feeding at least a portion of the second fraction to an electrostatic separator for one or more subsequent electrostatic separations into the first and second fractions, wherein the first fraction includes less than 5 percent by weight of total polymer particles and is substantially free of glass particles.

An installation is provided that is intended to separate two families of components of a mixture placed in a receptacle. The installation is provided with a screen and comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a generator that generates, between the first and second electrodes, an agitating alternating electrical field. The alternating electrical field is capable of alternately projecting all or some of the components of the mixture that is present in the receptacle towards or against the first electrode and then towards or against the second electrode in order to generate mechanical impacts on the components that contribute to breaking down the mixture within the receptacle and in order to facilitate the passage of components belonging to the second family through the screen. The screen ensures components belonging to the first family are retained in the receptacle.

A method of sorting municipal solid waste by creating a frictional force in refuse particulate using at least one frictional roller assembly to electrically charge waste material in the refuse particulate, and separating the waste material using an electrostatic force. A system of sorting municipal solid waste, including at least one frictional roller to electrically charge a waste material contained within refuse particulate, and at least one electrostatic separator to separate the waste material from the refuse particulate.