Methods and systems for separating mixed plastic waste are provided herein. The methods generally comprise separating the mixed plastic waste into a PET-enriched stream and one or more PET-depleted streams. The separating may be accomplished using the combinations of two or more density separation stages. Exemplary density separation stages include sink-float separators and centrifugal force separators. The PET-enriched and PET-depleted streams may be recovered and/or directed to downstream chemical recycling processes.

Methods and systems for separating mixed plastic waste are provided herein. The methods generally comprise separating the mixed plastic waste into a PET-enriched stream and one or more PET-depleted streams. The separating may be accomplished using the combinations of two or more density separation stages. Exemplary density separation stages include sink-float separators and centrifugal force separators. The PET-enriched and PET-depleted streams may be recovered and/or directed to downstream chemical recycling processes.

A waste sorting system (1) comprising a tank (S) for collecting recyclable material (RM) and a sorting unit (U) comprising a first sorting station (10) connected to the tank (S) through a transport device (12) of the recyclable material and a first sorting basin (14) containing a first liquid solution (L1) of given density to separate, according to Archimedes' principle, the recyclable material (RM) into a first material phase (F1) of first selection and a second material phase (F2) of first submersion; the first sorting basin (14) is delimited at the bottom by a first lower collection portion (140), the sorting unit (U) comprising first scraper means (16) associated with the first sorting basin (14) for collecting the first phase (F1) from a free surface of the first liquid solution (L1) and first wash means (18) of this first phase (F1); the first lower collection portion (140) being passed through by a first conveyor (11).

The invention relates to a system and method for separating pieces having a second density (9c) from granular material. The system includes a separation tank (2) comprising a first side wall (12) provided with a tank outlet (6), a bottom (7), a pipe (4) defining a channel (3a) for allowing a slurry to enter the tank (2). A pipe outlet (4b) is spaced apart from the tank outlet and arranged vertically below the outlet (6). The separation tank (2) comprises a trap (5) for collecting said pieces. A separation chamber (8a) is arranged in liquid communication with the pipe outlet to allow slurry to enter the separation chamber. The pipe outlet is in a lower third of the separation tank facing the bottom of the tank so that slurry flows vertically through the pipe outlet towards the bottom causing a turbulent flow of the slurry in the tank.

Apparatus and method for recovering precious metals from contaminated cement, comprising, in order of process, a crusher, in which a cement-metal conglomerate is placed, a sieve, a dispenser, a first container, suitable for collecting the metal on the bottom through the action of a magnetic stirrer, an expander, a second container, a drainage tank, and a sieve. The present invention relates in particular to the recovery of precious metal from the batch of cement contaminated by precious metals, such as platinum, rhodium, gold, or silver. In the production of glass fibers for reinforcement, dies made of an alloy of precious metals, in particular platinum and rhodium, are used. These dies are supported by a special cement structure. During the months of production life of the die, part of the precious metal diffuses into the cement on account of the high temperatures. Given the value of the metals, it is economically advantageous to recover them from the supporting cement at each change of the die.

The separator according to the invention comprises: a tank (1) for receiving waste material and containing fluid to separate waste material by density into floating and settled material; automatic feed means (18, 37), for example, a double screen (18) to feed waste material to the tank (1); motorised conveyor belts (3, 4) divided into a floating waste material conveyor (3) and a settled waste material conveyor (4) to extract floating or settled waste material from the tank (1): and a blower-type sorting device (21) comprising: a turbine (22) that provides an airflow; and a branched duct (23) divided into: a riser duct (26) to transport part of the airflow to a diffuser (39) beneath the automatic feed means (18, 37) to raise light-weight waste material; and a discharge duct (27) to transport and horizontally expel another part of the airflow in order to remove previously raised waste material. The separator according to the invention may incorporate bubble-making means, with injectors (2) to facilitate floatability and remove floating waste material.

Disclosed is a system and method for the recycling of waste composite feed materials such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), batteries, catalysts, plastic, plastic composites such as food packaging materials, for example Tetra Pak, mattresses, compact disks (CDs, DVDs), automobile shredder residue (ASR), electric cable wastes, liquid display panels, mobile phones of various sizes or combinations of the above using a new pyrolysis system and method.

Disclosed is a system and method for the recycling of waste composite feed materials such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), batteries, catalysts, plastic, plastic composites such as food packaging materials, for example Tetra Pak, mattresses, compact disks (CDs, DVDs), automobile shredder residue (ASR), electric cable wastes, liquid display panels, mobile phones of various sizes or combinations of the above using a new pyrolysis system and method.

The cell culture system has a culture tank containing a liquid medium that cultures cells, and a cell separator including a hydrodynamic separation device and a liquid feeding unit. The hydrodynamic separation device has a curved flow channel having a rectangular cross-section, and separates relatively large cells from the cells contained in the liquid medium using a vortex flow generated by flow through the curved flow channel. The liquid feeding unit flows the liquid medium through the hydrodynamic separation device in a pressure environment controlled to suppress decrease in cell viability caused by pressure fluctuation in the liquid medium during flowing through the hydrodynamic separation device.

The cell culture system has a culture tank containing a liquid medium that cultures cells, and a cell separator including a hydrodynamic separation device and a liquid feeding unit. The hydrodynamic separation device has a curved flow channel having a rectangular cross-section, and separates relatively large cells from the cells contained in the liquid medium using a vortex flow generated by flow through the curved flow channel. The liquid feeding unit flows the liquid medium through the hydrodynamic separation device in a pressure environment controlled to suppress decrease in cell viability caused by pressure fluctuation in the liquid medium during flowing through the hydrodynamic separation device.