Methods, devices, and systems that can be utilized in separating a polymer from other compounds of a polymer formation process are described. The methods utilize multiple sedimentors in a countercurrent flow design in conjunction with different solvent solutions in the multiple sedimentors to separate a product polymer from other compounds of a polymer formation process. The sedimentors include feed inlets that can encourage contact between countercurrent flows and improve mass transfer rates between the countercurrent flows.

Systems and methods for separating materials and recovery of valuable materials such as from end-of-life vehicles and appliances are disclosed. Vehicles are shredded and resulting pieces are dropped into a fluidic separator that separates the shredded vehicle scrap into heavier pieces and lighter pieces. The fluidic separator separates the bulk of the more valuable metals of the non-metals. The fluidic separator, which may be used for separating many kinds of mixtures of pieces of varying specific gravity, comprises a fluid-filled container in which the pieces and the fluid are stirred so that pieces of specific gravity greater than that of the fluid tend to sink and pieces of specific gravity less than that of the fluid tend to float.

A classifier and a method of separating material using such a classifier are disclosed. The classifier comprises a mixing chamber having a mixing fluidization floor and a concentration chamber having a concentration fluidization floor. The concentration fluidization floor and at least a portion of the concentration chamber is located below the mixing fluidization floor. The method of separating material using such a classifier comprises delivering material to be separated into a mixing chamber of the classifier, fluidizing the material in the mixing chamber; transferring some of the material to a concentration chamber of the classifier in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, fluidizing the material in the concentration chamber, forming a concentrating fluidized bed in the concentration chamber, separating the material with at least the concentrating fluidized bed and drawing heavier portions of the separated material from the concentration chamber.

A gravity separator that uses the upthrust of an upwardly flowing fluid to separate desired particulate from a material composite of a plurality of particulate is provided. The gravity separator may include a vertically oriented flow tube that is fluidly connected to an inlet tube, an outlet tube and a collection container, wherein the outlet tube is oriented upward from the inlet tube, which in turn is upward from the collection container. The inlet tube may receive a material composite including a plurality of non-desired particulate, conforming desired particulate and non-confirming desired particulate, which are subject to upthrust through the segment of the flow tube between the inlet tube and the outlet tube, the teetering chamber, so that only the conforming desired particulate sinks to the collection container.

This application discloses a separator for separating and recovering materials from a waste stream. The separator has a cyclone having a top section and a bottom section, an impeller within the cyclone, a media inlet for accepting a flow of media or a pulsating flow of the media operatively connected to the impeller in which media or fluid flows through the impeller into the separator; a first discharge passage for a collecting a light fraction, and a second discharge passage for collecting a heavy fraction.