A method for separating iron from an aluminium alloy comprises providing a first zone of an aluminium alloy at a first temperature at which the aluminium alloy is partially melted and any iron-containing particles therein are fully molten, and providing a second zone of the alloy at a second temperature at which the aluminium alloy is fully molten, such that a temperature gradient is created between the first zone and the second zone. By applying a static homogeneous magnetic field to the alloy, and maintaining the temperature gradient and the magnetic field for a period of time, the iron content of the first and/or second zone can be reduced.

A method for separating iron from an aluminium alloy comprises providing a first zone of an aluminium alloy at a first temperature at which the aluminium alloy is partially melted and any iron-containing particles therein are fully molten, and providing a second zone of the alloy at a second temperature at which the aluminium alloy is fully molten, such that a temperature gradient is created between the first zone and the second zone. By applying a static homogeneous magnetic field to the alloy, and maintaining the temperature gradient and the magnetic field for a period of time, the iron content of the first and/or second zone can be reduced.

The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

A magnetic density separator comprising a process channel through which in use magnetic process liquid and particles to be separated flow in a flow direction, a magnetization device that is arranged to extend in flow direction along at least one of the walls of the channel so as to in use apply a magnetic field to the process liquid in a separation zone of the channel to establish a cut density of the magnetic process liquid to separate the particles in the process liquid based on their density, a laminator through which the magnetic process liquid is introduced into the channel to flow laminarized in flow direction along the separation zone, and a feed through which a mixture of process liquid and particles to be separated is introduced into the process channel to join the laminarized process liquid, characterized in that the feed includes an entraining device.

A magnetic density separator comprising a process channel through which in use magnetic process liquid and particles to be separated flow in a flow direction, a magnetization device that is arranged to extend in flow direction along at least one of the walls of the channel so as to in use apply a magnetic field to the process liquid in a separation zone of the channel to establish a cut density of the magnetic process liquid to separate the particles in the process liquid based on their density, a laminator through which the magnetic process liquid is introduced into the channel to flow laminarized in flow direction along the separation zone, and a feed through which a mixture of process liquid and particles to be separated is introduced into the process channel to join the laminarized process liquid, characterized in that the feed includes an entraining device.

A method for producing a thermal product with a consistent and designable thermal property is disclosed. The method comprises producing from a municipal waste a cellulose-based material stockpile and a plastic-based material stockpile; automatically measuring at least one physical property of the cellulose-based material stockpile and at least one physical property of the plastic-based material stockpile; based on the measurements of the at least one physical property the cellulose-based material stockpile and the measurements of the at least one physical property of the plastic-based material stockpile, automatically controlling mixing the cellulose-based material stockpile and the plastic-based material stockpile to form a mixture by adjusting a ratio of the cellulose-based material stockpile to the plastic-based material stockpile; and automatically heating and compressing the mixture to form the thermal product.

An apparatus and method to efficiently recover noble metals such as gold, silver and copper and aluminum from incineration ash, and effectively use ash after recovering the noble metals and others. An incineration ash treatment apparatus 1 including: a crusher for crushing an incineration ash A1 to be less or equal to 5 mm in maximum particle diameter, or/and a classifier for classifying an incineration ash to obtain an incineration ash whose maximum particle diameter is less or equal to 5 mm; an eddy current separator 8 for separating an incineration ash whose maximum particle diameter is less or equal to 5 mm discharged from the crusher or/and the classifier into a conductor E and a nonconductor I; a specific gravity separator for separating a conductor discharged from the eddy current separator 8 into a high gravity material H2 and a low gravity material L2. The specific gravity separator can be an air table 10. A classifier for classifying a crushed material C, classifying point of which is 5 mm or less, can be mounted, and fine particles P whose particle diameters are 5 mm or less discharged from the classifier can be fed to the eddy current separator 8. Rotation speed of a drum of the eddy current separator 8 can be 4000 rpm or more.

A magnetic density separator includes a process channel, a magnetization device, a laminator, and a feed including an entraining device. The process channel may permit magnetic process liquid and particles to be separated to flow through in a flow direction. The magnetization device may be arranged to extend in flow direction along at least one of the walls of the channel and to apply a magnetic field to the process liquid in a separation zone of the channel to establish a cut density of the magnetic process liquid to separate the particles in the process liquid based on their density. The laminator may be configured to introduce magnetic process liquid into the channel to flow laminarized in flow direction along the separation zone. The feed may introduce a mixture of process liquid and particles to be separated into the process channel to join the laminarized process liquid.

A magnetic density separator includes a process channel, a magnetization device, a laminator, and a feed including an entraining device. The process channel may permit magnetic process liquid and particles to be separated to flow through in a flow direction. The magnetization device may be arranged to extend in flow direction along at least one of the walls of the channel and to apply a magnetic field to the process liquid in a separation zone of the channel to establish a cut density of the magnetic process liquid to separate the particles in the process liquid based on their density. The laminator may be configured to introduce magnetic process liquid into the channel to flow laminarized in flow direction along the separation zone. The feed may introduce a mixture of process liquid and particles to be separated into the process channel to join the laminarized process liquid.