A method of making a fluorinated fibrous web, which method includes providing a nonwoven web 22 that contains polymeric fibers, creating a plasma that contains fluorine atoms at a first location 14, and contacting the nonwoven web with products from the plasma at a second location 26 remote from the first location 14. The method avoids exposure of the web to the plasma and hence expands the manufacturing processing window. Webs so fluorinated have a different C.sub.3F.sub.4H.sup.+ to C.sub.2F.sub.5.sup.+ ratio when compared to locally fluorinated webs having similar levels of surface fluorination. The remote fluorinated webs can be subsequently charged electrically to provide a good performing electret filter 40 suitable for use in an air purifying respirator 30. Webs fluorinated in accordance with this invention also may exhibit good performance even after being aged at high temperatures.

An improved belt separator system and an improved method to separate particle mixtures based on triboelectric separation of particles is disclosed. The separator system includes a tensioning system embodying a tension roller and a two-part rotating shaft assembly.

Systems and methods for the beneficiation of fine and very fine particles of iron ore are disclosed. The system includes a first triboelectric electrostatic belt-type separator (BSS) which receives and processes a stream of particles with a median particle size (d50) less than 75 microns to generate an iron rich concentrate. The system and method is water-free and carried out in a totally dry metallurgical route. The system also includes at least one air classification device that receives and processes a feed stream of particles to provide the stream of particles with a median particle size (d50) that is less than 75 microns. The system may also include a dryer and de-agglomeration system that receives a feed stream of particles and processes the feed stream of particles to provide the particle stream with a moisture of less than 2%.

An improved belt for use in a belt separation apparatus and an improved method to separate a particle mixture based on tribo-electric charging of particles is disclosed. The improved belt is particularly suitable for tribo-electric separation of particles that tend to accumulate on the edges of the belt separation apparatus and/or tend to compound, or blend, with the belt material. The improved belt comprises impermeable longitudinal edges, apertures interior to the longitudinal edges of the belt, and periodic notches formed in the longitudinal edges of the belt at periodic locations in the edge of the belt.

Systems and methods for the beneficiation of fine and very fine particles of iron ore are disclosed. The system includes a first triboelectric electrostatic belt-type separator (BSS) which receives and processes a stream of particles with a median particle size (d50) less than 75 microns to generate an iron rich concentrate. The system and method is water-free and carried out in a totally dry metallurgical route. The system also includes at least one air classification device that receives and processes a feed stream of particles to provide the stream of particles with a median particle size (d50) that is less than 75 microns. The system may also include a dryer and de-agglomeration system that receives a feed stream of particles and processes the feed stream of particles to provide the particle stream with a moisture of less than 2%.

A tribo-electro static 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.

The system extracts water from lunar regolith and includes a regolith intake having a digging bucket that collects lunar regolith soil and a gravel separator that separates and discharges gravel and passes a mixture of ice-regolith powder having ice grains that are about 10-100 microns along the conveyor. A pneumatic separator receives the ice-regolith powder and pneumatically splits the ice-regolith powder into streams of different sized lithic fragments and ice particles per the ratio of inertial force and aerodynamic drag force of the lithic fragments and ice particles. Each split stream may include a magnetic separator that separates further the magnetic and paramagnetic lithic fragments from ice particles to discharge up to 80 percent of lithic fragments to slag.

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.