Material collection devices, placer recovery systems, and related methods are disclosed. A material collection device includes a filter tube including a wall defining apertures, an inlet through which fluid and material enter the filter tube, protrusions extending inwardly from the wall of the filter tube, the protrusions in front of the apertures from a perspective of the inlet, and an outlet through which the fluid and material exit the filter tube. The material collection device also includes a collector positioned below the filter tube, the collector configured to collect particles of the material that exit the filter tube through the apertures.

Material collection devices, placer recovery systems, and related methods are disclosed. A material collection device includes a filter tube including a wall defining apertures, an inlet through which fluid and material enter the filter tube, protrusions extending inwardly from the wall of the filter tube, the protrusions in front of the apertures from a perspective of the inlet, and an outlet through which the fluid and material exit the filter tube. The material collection device also includes a collector positioned below the filter tube, the collector configured to collect particles of the material that exit the filter tube through the apertures.

Systems and methods can sort materials of different specific gravities in a mixture. These systems and methods for separation of materials provide multiple forces simultaneously. The system can utilizes both vertical and the horizontal forces for efficient separation of materials with different specific gravities.

Systems and methods can sort materials of different specific gravities in a mixture. These systems and methods for separation of materials provide multiple forces simultaneously. The system can utilizes both vertical and the horizontal forces for efficient separation of materials with different specific gravities.

Systems and methods for separating heavier from lighter materials in mixed auto shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles. Vehicles are shredded and the resulting mixed ASR is fed into a system that efficiently segregates heavier (typically metal) from lighter (typically plastic) pieces. The system has an inlet feed chute angled downward to a lower end over a separator tank filled with water. One or more nozzles configured to introduce water at a velocity into the separator tank create a flow of water across the tank to push smaller and lighter particles over an exit weir. Heavier particles sink toward a heavy matter removal conveyor having a lower end positioned within the separator tank so that the heavier particles are transported upward out of the separator tank. The heavy matter removal conveyor may be one or more Archimedes screws, a flat, ribbed or cleated conveyor, or a drag chain.

Systems and methods for separating heavier from lighter materials in mixed auto shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles. Vehicles are shredded and the resulting mixed ASR is fed into a system that efficiently segregates heavier (typically metal) from lighter (typically plastic) pieces. The system has an inlet feed chute angled downward to a lower end over a separator tank filled with water. One or more nozzles configured to introduce water at a velocity into the separator tank create a flow of water across the tank to push smaller and lighter particles over an exit weir. Heavier particles sink toward a heavy matter removal conveyor having a lower end positioned within the separator tank so that the heavier particles are transported upward out of the separator tank. The heavy matter removal conveyor may be one or more Archimedes screws, a flat, ribbed or cleated conveyor, or a drag chain.

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.

An elutriation apparatus has a mechanism adapted to move water along a path, the water entraining material particles of different density, and a plurality of elutriation columns interfaced to the mechanism adapted to move the water with entrained particles, the elutriation columns interfaced along the path, each elutriation column having a vertical bore with water controlled to travel up the vertical bore at one velocity and having also a capture element at the bottom of the bore. As the water with entrained particles passes over each interface to an elutriation column along the path, particles of a density sufficient for the particles to settle in the elutriation column at a velocity greater than the upward velocity of water in the bore of the elutriation column, settle to the bottom of the column, and particles of lesser density pass on to a next elutriation column interfaced along the path.