An improved process and apparatus for separating organics and inorganics from waste material with a specific object of preparing the separated organic fraction for the production of biogas or other methods for diverting organics from landfills. Waste material, such as municipal solid waste or source-separated organic waste (SSO), is subjected to a first separation treatment that separates organic and inorganic waste components. The apparatus includes a hopper to receive contaminated organic waste from different sources, a vertical separator that separates the inorganics from the organics by creating a vortex effect in a stationary filtration drum by which the solid contaminants (paper, plastic, metals) are blown in a spiral pattern upwards and removed from the top, while the organic fraction is removed from the bottom.

Such apparatus is improved through novel methods to reduce or eliminate blockages and their associated downtime, and to increase the efficiency of the separation process.

An apparatus which allows a flexible classification of poly- and/or monocrystalline silicon comprises a winnowing device configured to separate crushed material of poly- and/or monocrystalline silicon into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction. The apparatus also comprises an optoelectronic sorting device configured to separate the coarse fraction into at least two fractions.

A separation device includes a first shredding unit, a first beating unit, and a first separation unit. The first shredding unit shreds a disposable diaper (processing target) containing a plastic (first material) and a water-absorbent polymer (second material) adhering to the plastic. The first beating unit beats the disposable diaper shredded by the first shredding unit with a first beating member, thereby promoting dissociation of the water-absorbent polymer from the plastic. The first separation unit rotates a first tubular portion in a state in which the disposable diaper beaten by the first beating unit is accommodated therein, thereby separating the water-absorbent polymer passing through first holes from the disposable diaper.

An apparatus which allows a flexible classification of poly- and/or monocrystalline silicon comprises a winnowing device configured to separate crushed material of poly- and/or monocrystalline silicon into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction. The apparatus also comprises an optoelectronic sorting device configured to separate the coarse fraction into at least two fractions.

A trommel apparatus has a cylindrical body configured for rotational movement and a plurality of elongated holes or slots formed in the cylindrical body. The trommel apparatus can be used to sort pieces of automobile shredder residue.

A method of determining multimodal polyethylene quality comprising the steps of (a) providing a multimodal polyethylene resin sample; (b) determining, in any sequence, the following: that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a melt index within 30% of a target melt index; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a density within 2.5% of a target density; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a dynamic viscosity deviation (% MVD) from a target dynamic viscosity of less than about 100%; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) deviation (% M.sub.wD) from a target M.sub.w of less than about 20%; and that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) curve profile deviation (% GPCD) from a target GPC curve profile of less than about 15%; and (c) responsive to step (b), designating the multimodal polyethylene resin sample as a high quality resin.