A method and apparatus for washing and separating pieces of plastics material from contaminating material that also includes metal elements includes a stirring device having a plurality of blades which are driven in a washing fluid to generate a turbulent stirring action to mechanically remove part of the contaminating material from the plastics material. The tilt of the blades and the rotation speed of the stirring device are chosen carefully to generate an upward thrusting action to maintain the plastics material with a specific weight that is greater than the specific weight of the fluid in a floating condition. The plastics material is retained inside the container for sufficient time to obtain a desired degree of purity and decontamination for the plastics material, after which it is evacuated by controlled overflow.

A method and apparatus for washing and separating pieces of plastics material from contaminating material that also includes metal elements includes a stirring device having a plurality of blades which are driven in a washing fluid to generate a turbulent stirring action to mechanically remove part of the contaminating material from the plastics material. The tilt of the blades and the rotation speed of the stirring device are chosen carefully to generate an upward thrusting action to maintain the plastics material with a specific weight that is greater than the specific weight of the fluid in a floating condition. The plastics material is retained inside the container for sufficient time to obtain a desired degree of purity and decontamination for the plastics material, after which it is evacuated by controlled overflow.

A method and apparatus for washing and separating pieces of plastics material from contaminants includes supplying to a washing container pieces of plastics material containing contaminating material and an entering flow of washing fluid. A turbulent stirring action to detach and separate mechanically the contaminating material from the plastics material is generated, evacuating through overflowing, through an outlet port An outlet flow of washing fluid and a quantity of plastics material that has undergone the turbulent stirring action is evacuated by overflow through an outlet port. A controlled-conveying and retaining arrangement is driven to retain the plastics material in the washing container and to advance in a controlled manner the quantity of plastics material to the outlet port independently of the advancement of the outlet flow of washing fluid. An adjustable bulkhead is arranged in the washing fluid at a depth with respect to the free surface to divert from the outlet port the pieces of plastics material that, once supplied to the container, by advancing more on the surface, tend to reach the outlet zone of the washings container. The bulkhead guides and forces the pieces of plastics to undergo the turbulent stirring action to separate and detach the adhering contaminants therefrom.

A method and apparatus for washing and separating pieces of plastics material from contaminants includes supplying to a washing container pieces of plastics material containing contaminating material and an entering flow of washing fluid. A turbulent stirring action to detach and separate mechanically the contaminating material from the plastics material is generated, evacuating through overflowing, through an outlet port An outlet flow of washing fluid and a quantity of plastics material that has undergone the turbulent stirring action is evacuated by overflow through an outlet port. A controlled-conveying and retaining arrangement is driven to retain the plastics material in the washing container and to advance in a controlled manner the quantity of plastics material to the outlet port independently of the advancement of the outlet flow of washing fluid. An adjustable bulkhead is arranged in the washing fluid at a depth with respect to the free surface to divert from the outlet port the pieces of plastics material that, once supplied to the container, by advancing more on the surface, tend to reach the outlet zone of the washings container. The bulkhead guides and forces the pieces of plastics to undergo the turbulent stirring action to separate and detach the adhering contaminants therefrom.

Systems and methods for cryogenic separation of plant material are provided. A vessel is filled with cryogenic fluid having a temperature at or less than 150 degrees Celsius. Plant material is placed into the vessel via a basket and agitation is provided to the plant material in the vessel for a predetermined time period. Upon completion of the time period, the basket having at least a portion of the plant material is removed from the vessel. Plant particulates separated from the plant material during the agitation settle to the bottom of the vessel. The vessel is drained of the cryogenic fluid, including plant particulates separated from the plant material.

System and method for cryogenic separation of plant material are provided. A vessel is filled with cryogenic fluid having a temperature at or less than 150 degrees Celsius. Plant material is placed into the vessel via a basket and agitation is provided to the plant material in the vessel for a predetermined time period. Upon completion of the time period, the basket having at least a portion of the plant material is removed from the vessel. Plant particulates separated from the plant material during the agitation settle to the bottom of the vessel. The vessel is drained of the cryogenic fluid, including plant particulates separated from the plant material.

A method and apparatus for washing sheets of plastic material originating from industrial and agricultural waste, for subsequent reuse thereof as a raw material. The sheets of plastic material, precut into soiled pieces of large dimensions, and a water flow are supplied to a washing tank containing a water bath; a screw stirrer generates intense stirring of the water bath and recirculation, inside the tank, of the soiled plastic pieces that causes the contaminating material to be detached and separated by sedimentation from the plastic pieces. The cleaned pieces of plastic material of large dimensions, devoid of contaminant, which float in the water bath are removed by dragging, in a floating condition, along a discharging channel by the combined action of a dragging device and of a water flow that exits the washing tank; the dragging device, consisting of an endless belt, extends from one side of the washing tank along the discharging channel, supported in a freely tiltable manner.

A method and apparatus for washing sheets of plastic material originating from industrial and agricultural waste, for subsequent reuse thereof as a raw material. The sheets of plastic material, precut into soiled pieces of large dimensions, and a water flow are supplied to a washing tank containing a water bath; a screw stirrer generates intense stirring of the water bath and recirculation, inside the tank, of the soiled plastic pieces that causes the contaminating material to be detached and separated by sedimentation from the plastic pieces. The cleaned pieces of plastic material of large dimensions, devoid of contaminant, which float in the water bath are removed by dragging, in a floating condition, along a discharging channel by the combined action of a dragging device and of a water flow that exits the washing tank; the dragging device, consisting of an endless belt, extends from one side of the washing tank along the discharging channel, supported in a freely tiltable manner.

A cyclonic separation and materials processing method and system is presented in which materials entry at one end and which is arranged so that the materials that enter will be given a tangential velocity component as they enter. Specific embodiments include a three-dimensional sorting system with the use of an outward centrifugal motion and up/down (or vertical) motion flow of water or other media, which can be thought of as a three-dimensional separation.

A cyclonic separation and materials processing method and system is presented in which materials entry at one end and which is arranged so that the materials that enter will be given a tangential velocity component as they enter. Specific embodiments include a three-dimensional sorting system with the use of an outward centrifugal motion and up/down (or vertical) motion flow of water or other media, which can be thought of as a three-dimensional separation.