A system and process for sorting and recovery of recyclable materials, and in particular, sorting and recovery of recyclable materials from mixed waste comprising municipal solid waste in a materials recovery facility.

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.

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.

A braking system for safely collecting brake dust produced by operation of a braking mechanism. The braking system comprises a collector apparatus coupled with a braking mechanism. The collector apparatus is able to include a shroud that surrounds the braking mechanism and a catch element coupled with the shroud for collecting brake dust exiting the shroud. As a result, when coupled with the braking mechanism, the collector apparatus is able to ensure that most or all brake dust, such as copper or other particles from the braking mechanism that break off from the breaking mechanism during operation of the braking mechanism, are removed from the braking mechanism and collected by the filter/catch of the collector mechanism.

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.

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 system for recovering recyclable materials from mixed waste is provided. The system processes existing municipal solid waste collections to recover recyclable materials from the waste. The system uses various separation processes sequenced with a rotating, horizontal constant-flow steam based waste processing vessel to efficiently separate high value materials such as metals and rigid plastics while additionally separating low value plastics and post-consumer commodities. The system reduces landfill load and operational costs while simultaneously providing the reduction of carbon emissions achieved with recycling post-consumer commodities.

A system for recovering recyclable materials from mixed waste is provided. The system processes existing municipal solid waste collections to recover recyclable materials from the waste. The system uses various separation processes sequenced with a rotating, horizontal constant-flow steam based waste processing vessel to efficiently separate high value materials such as metals and rigid plastics while additionally separating low value plastics and post-consumer commodities. The system reduces landfill load and operational costs while simultaneously providing the reduction of carbon emissions achieved with recycling post-consumer commodities.

An apparatus for carrying out size reduction of battery materials under immersion conditions can include a housing configured to hold an immersion liquid comprising at least one of sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. A first feed chute may define an opening therein for receiving battery materials of a first type into the housing and a first submergible comminuting device may be disposed within the housing and submerged in the immersion liquid to receive the battery materials of the first type from the first feed chute. The first submergible comminuting device may be configured to cause a size reduction of the battery materials of the first type to form a first reduced-size battery material.

An apparatus for carrying out size reduction of battery materials under immersion conditions can include a housing configured to hold an immersion liquid comprising at least one of sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. A first feed chute may define an opening therein for receiving battery materials of a first type into the housing and a first submergible comminuting device may be disposed within the housing and submerged in the immersion liquid to receive the battery materials of the first type from the first feed chute. The first submergible comminuting device may be configured to cause a size reduction of the battery materials of the first type to form a first reduced-size battery material.