Methods and systems for recycling a printed circuit board (PCB). The printed circuit board is exposed to a swelling agent that causes an epoxy matrix of the printed circuit board to swell and disintegrate into particles. The particles of epoxy are then separated from the printed circuit board, leaving behind reinforcing fiber and metal containing components thereof. These remaining components are separated from each other and recycled separately using suitable processes. The epoxy particles are also recovered, and may be reduced to a monomer for use in synthesizing new epoxy. The swelling agent includes a carboxylic acid, preferably formic acid, as an active ingredient.

A magnetic separator includes a housing defining a product flow path, a drawer moveable between a first position and a second position, a magnet operatively connected to the drawer, the magnet positioned within the product flow path when in the first position and the magnet withdrawn from the flow path when in the second position, and a stripper plate frame attached to the housing. A stripper plate is fixed to the stripper plate frame that conforms with the magnet and through which the magnet passes as the drawer is moved between the first and second positions. An anti-rotation mechanism includes a slot that engages along a length of a shoulder such that. When the anti-rotation mechanism is positioned having the slot over the shoulder, the magnet is prevented from moving from the axially locked position. The shoulder extends beyond an outer surface of the anti-rotation mechanism.

A magnetic separator includes a housing defining a product flow path, a drawer moveable between a first position and a second position, a magnet operatively connected to the drawer, the magnet positioned within the product flow path when in the first position and the magnet withdrawn from the flow path when in the second position, and a stripper plate frame attached to the housing. A stripper plate is fixed to the stripper plate frame that conforms with the magnet and through which the magnet passes as the drawer is moved between the first and second positions. An anti-rotation mechanism includes a slot that engages along a length of a shoulder such that. When the anti-rotation mechanism is positioned having the slot over the shoulder, the magnet is prevented from moving from the axially locked position. The shoulder extends beyond an outer surface of the anti-rotation mechanism.

A method and apparatus for continuous magnetic filtration of ferrous mill scale from liquid solution employs a tank for receipt of fluids laden with mill scale. A curvate trough within the tank receives a rotatable magnetic drum and establishes a channel therebetween. An air compressor and associated manifold generate bubbles within the tank and adjacent the rotatable magnetic drum. The mill scale attaches to the bubbles, which are attracted to the surface of the drum where the mill scale accumulates. The accumulation of mill scale particles is moved about the surface of the rotating drum by a scraper proximate the surface thereof. By moving the accumulated mill scale particles to regions of the rotating drum that are of a magnetic force insufficient to retain them upon the surface of the drum, the mill scale particles are removed and passed to a conveyor system.

A method and apparatus for continuous magnetic filtration of ferrous mill scale from liquid solution employs a tank for receipt of fluids laden with mill scale. A curvate trough within the tank receives a rotatable magnetic drum and establishes a channel therebetween. An air compressor and associated manifold generate bubbles within the tank and adjacent the rotatable magnetic drum. The mill scale attaches to the bubbles, which are attracted to the surface of the drum where the mill scale accumulates. The accumulation of mill scale particles is moved about the surface of the rotating drum by a scraper proximate the surface thereof. By moving the accumulated mill scale particles to regions of the rotating drum that are of a magnetic force insufficient to retain them upon the surface of the drum, the mill scale particles are removed and passed to a conveyor system.

A system is provided for the quantitative magnetic separation of magnetic objects (e.g., particles or cells). The system uses magnetic ratcheting over arrays of ferromagnetic elements having gradient spacing manifested in various pitch zones that are encountered by the magnetic objects as they traverse the array. The system can be used to separate and concentrate magnetic objects based on iron oxide content. For cells, different phenotypes may be separated based, for example, on surface expression of proteins or molecules that are bound to magnetic particles. The system includes a substrate or chip having the array of ferromagnetic elements with increasing lateral pitch and an externally driven magnet device that generates a cycling magnetic field. Magnetic objects with higher IOC separate and equilibrate along the array at larger pitches. The system can be used for the differential sorting of particles and cells of interest.

A system is provided for the quantitative magnetic separation of magnetic objects (e.g., particles or cells). The system uses magnetic ratcheting over arrays of ferromagnetic elements having gradient spacing manifested in various pitch zones that are encountered by the magnetic objects as they traverse the array. The system can be used to separate and concentrate magnetic objects based on iron oxide content. For cells, different phenotypes may be separated based, for example, on surface expression of proteins or molecules that are bound to magnetic particles. The system includes a substrate or chip having the array of ferromagnetic elements with increasing lateral pitch and an externally driven magnet device that generates a cycling magnetic field. Magnetic objects with higher IOC separate and equilibrate along the array at larger pitches. The system can be used for the differential sorting of particles and cells of interest.

Methods and systems for processing incineration byproduct from waste incinerators, ash purification and recovery of materials and metals. High levels of aggregate and metals recovery and ash purification are achieved for residual ash with reduced environmental contaminants.

Methods and systems for processing incineration byproduct from waste incinerators, ash purification and recovery of materials and metals. High levels of aggregate and metals recovery and ash purification are achieved for residual ash with reduced environmental contaminants.

System and method for treating scrubber and ballast wastewater at the same time. The method includes mixing ballast and scrubber wastewater to make a suspended solid concentration or turbidity of the obtained wastewater mixture constant, the scrubber wastewater produced by bringing exhaust gas and scrubber washing water into contact with each other in a scrubber; adding magnetic powder to the wastewater mixture; and magnetically separating magnetic flocs obtained in the adding. The system includes a mixer that mixes ballast and scrubber wastewater to make a suspended solid concentration or turbidity of the obtained wastewater mixture constant, the scrubber wastewater produced by bringing exhaust gas and scrubber washing water into contact with each other in a scrubber; a magnetic powder adding device that adds magnetic powder to the wastewater mixture obtained by the mixer; and a magnetic separator that magnetically separates magnetic flocs obtained by the magnetic powder adding device.