A gypsum washer includes a rotating trommel receiving raw material and a flow of water, and having paddles tilted to reduce impacts of the gypsum passing through the trommel while still providing a washing action. Bentonite separates from the gypsum in the trommel, liquifies, and is released through a mesh screen at the end of the trommel separating from the gypsum. The gypsum is released from the trommel into a water fed trough, scooped from the trough, and released into a storage area. The liquified bentonite is carried by a water flow into one or more settlement tanks, and recovered for use.

Systems and methods for separating materials and recovery of valuable copper from shredded end-of-life vehicles and appliances are disclosed. Shredded matter, or ASR, is sent through a series of sorters before reaching a system that separates out copper bits. The system utilizes a pair of conveyor belts; one for de-watering and removing most of the plastic and glass particles and a second below the first for separating the copper bits. The second conveyor belt has a belt with a particular tooth pattern and material softness, and is set at a slight uphill incline angle. Water is delivered from the top down the slope and the belt successfully transports mostly just copper up and over a top edge to a collection bin. A cascading series of pairs of conveyors may be used to ensure nearly complete recovery of the copper.

A system and process for closed loop system for removing particulate from a coal fired power wash water waste stream comprising a submerged flight conveyor for receiving used wash water, a bleed line for diverting wash water from the submerged flight conveyor, a filter for removing particulate from the diverter wash water, and pumps to recirculate the wash water on a loop through the system.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing waste egg shells into (i) a first product including calcified egg shell particles having diameters of 3μ or less, and (ii) a second product including calcified egg shell particles having diameters in a range from about 3μ to about 7μ. The first product may be used as a CaCO.sub.3 substitute for paint compositions and plastics compositions. The second product may be used as a CaCO.sub.3 blasting media substitute for use with abrasive blasting equipment.

A system and method reclaims select components containing rare earth metals of electronic media electronic storage devices such as hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives and destroys the data containing components thereof. The system employs first devices, such as milling tools, to loosen various components of the storage device. The various loosened components include the components containing the rare earth metals and the data containing portions. Second devices, such as pick and place mechanisms, are provided for removing components from the storage device. A holding chassis receives the storage device, and moves the storage device for engagement with the first and the second devices. A section is provided for destroying the data containing portion of the electronic media storage device.

The invention is directed to a process for separating particles using a wet density-based separation device, wherein at least part of said particles are coated prior to being fed to said density-based separation device. In accordance with the invention separation medium that is employed in density-based separation processes can be saved.

Methods for detecting electronics amongst a plurality of recycling materials.

A method for recovering metals from waste in which material is roughly or coarsely separated to leave a fibrous feedstock, the feedstock is comminuted with a mill (e.g., a ball mill) to liberate and separate the fibrous feedstock to obtain a mix of a metal fraction and residue, and the metals fraction and the residue are collected. There is a system employing the same to treat such materials.

Methods and systems for detecting electronics amongst a plurality of recycling materials.

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.