A method and apparatus for washing and grading sand includes a first grading screen adapted to separate a feed material into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction, the coarse fraction having a greater particle size than the fine fraction. A first fines separation stage including one or more hydrocyclones is adapted to receive the fine fraction entrained in water, downstream of the first grading screen to thereby remove fine contaminants. A first dewatering screen includes a deck adapted to dewater the fine fraction downstream of the first fines separation stage to provide a fine sand product, and a second dewatering screen includes a deck adapted to dewater the coarse fraction downstream of the first grading screen to provide a coarse sand product.

Hydrocyclones and related apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for classifying aggregate material. Some embodiments include an inlet head with a spiral inlet having a height and width that vary along the direction of travel of material in the inlet head. Plants incorporating hydrocyclones are disclosed for classifying aggregate material. Some plant embodiments include an overflow container having a weir.

Hydrocyclones and related apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for classifying aggregate material. Some embodiments include an inlet head with a spiral inlet having a height and width that vary along the direction of travel of material in the inlet head. Plants incorporating hydrocyclones are disclosed for classifying aggregate material. Some plant embodiments include an overflow container having a weir.

A method of grading and washing sand including the steps of removing oversize material from a feed material to which water is added on a first grading screen, whereby the oversize material passes over a downstream end of an apertured deck of the first grading screen, undersize material and water passing through the apertured deck being collected in a sump of the first grading screen before being passed onto an apertured deck of a second grading screen having apertures of a smaller size than those of the deck of the first grading screen, oversize material passing over a downstream end of the second grading screen, pumping water and undersize material from a sump of the second grading screen to a washing stage to remove fine contaminants therefrom.

A method of grading and washing sand including the steps of removing oversize material from a feed material to which water is added on a first grading screen, whereby the oversize material passes over a downstream end of an apertured deck of the first grading screen, undersize material and water passing through the apertured deck being collected in a sump of the first grading screen before being passed onto an apertured deck of a second grading screen having apertures of a smaller size than those of the deck of the first grading screen, oversize material passing over a downstream end of the second grading screen, pumping water and undersize material from a sump of the second grading screen to a washing stage to remove fine contaminants therefrom.

A slurry handling apparatus includes at least one reception hopper includes a base, a rear wall and opposing side walls, and an opening provided in the base. Slurry delivered into the reception hopper from a tanker can pass through the opening in the base, and a respective first dewatering screen having an apertured screening deck is located beneath the at least one reception hopper so that slurry passing through the opening is delivered onto the deck of the respective screen, with undersize material and water passing through the apertures of the deck to be received within a sump, and with oversize material passing over the deck to be discharged from a downstream end of the deck.

A slurry handling apparatus includes at least one reception hopper includes a base, a rear wall and opposing side walls, and an opening provided in the base. Slurry delivered into the reception hopper from a tanker can pass through the opening in the base, and a respective first dewatering screen having an apertured screening deck is located beneath the at least one reception hopper so that slurry passing through the opening is delivered onto the deck of the respective screen, with undersize material and water passing through the apertures of the deck to be received within a sump, and with oversize material passing over the deck to be discharged from a downstream end of the deck.

A process (1, 101, 201) for separating a fibrous target component (21) from textile waste (2, 5) is shown, said textile waste (2, 5) containing the target component (21) and at least one ancillary component (22), whereby the target component (21) consists of water-swellable textile fibers (51) with a density higher than the density of water, the process (1, 101, 201) comprising the steps: a) dispersing the comminuted textile waste (5) in an aqueous solution (7) to obtain a suspension (8) containing the textile waste (5), and b) separating the dispersed textile waste (5) into a high-density target fraction (81) comprising the target component (21), and a low-density residual fraction (82) comprising the at least one ancillary component (22), according to the respective density of said components (21, 22). In order to provide a reliable, fast process for the separation of water-swellable fibers from other textile fibers which are similar in density, it is proposed, that the aqueous solution (7) is an alkaline aqueous solution (7) and the target component fibers (51) are swelled in the alkaline aqueous solution (7) prior to step b), thereby increasing the density and weight of said target component (21) relative to the density and weight of the ancillary component (22).

A process (1, 101, 201) for separating a fibrous target component (21) from textile waste (2, 5) is shown, said textile waste (2, 5) containing the target component (21) and at least one ancillary component (22), whereby the target component (21) consists of water-swellable textile fibers (51) with a density higher than the density of water, the process (1, 101, 201) comprising the steps: a) dispersing the comminuted textile waste (5) in an aqueous solution (7) to obtain a suspension (8) containing the textile waste (5), and b) separating the dispersed textile waste (5) into a high-density target fraction (81) comprising the target component (21), and a low-density residual fraction (82) comprising the at least one ancillary component (22), according to the respective density of said components (21, 22). In order to provide a reliable, fast process for the separation of water-swellable fibers from other textile fibers which are similar in density, it is proposed, that the aqueous solution (7) is an alkaline aqueous solution (7) and the target component fibers (51) are swelled in the alkaline aqueous solution (7) prior to step b), thereby increasing the density and weight of said target component (21) relative to the density and weight of the ancillary component (22).

Aggregate washing systems are described including mechanisms for slurrying, washing and/or dewatering aggregate material. Some embodiments include a slurry mixer having a tank, water inlet and propulsion assembly. Some embodiments include a dewatering mechanism having a vibrating screen.