A multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus 100 is disclosed for separating fiber from a liquid medium during, for example, a grain wet mill or dry grind process. The apparatus includes a housing 106 having first and second zones 108a, 108b situated adjacent one another along a length (L) of the housing 106. First and second screen sections 102a, 102b having a plurality of openings 104 may be situated lengthwise within the housing 106 corresponding with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively. The first and second screen sections 102a, 102b have a circular cross-section, and the second screen section 102b has a larger diameter than the first screen section 102a. An elongated shaft 130 situated lengthwise within the screen sections 102a, 102b includes first and second conveyors 128a, 128b, which correspond with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively, having a plurality of paddles 132. Each conveyor 128a, 128b is configured to move material in a direction along a length of the screen 102a, 102b. There may be more than two zones 108a, 108b.

A multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus 100 is disclosed for separating fiber from a liquid medium during, for example, a grain wet mill or dry grind process. The apparatus includes a housing 106 having first and second zones 108a, 108b situated adjacent one another along a length (L) of the housing 106. First and second screen sections 102a, 102b having a plurality of openings 104 may be situated lengthwise within the housing 106 corresponding with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively. The first and second screen sections 102a, 102b have a circular cross-section, and the second screen section 102b has a larger diameter than the first screen section 102a. An elongated shaft 130 situated lengthwise within the screen sections 102a, 102b includes first and second conveyors 128a, 128b, which correspond with the first and second zones 108a, 108b, respectively, having a plurality of paddles 132. Each conveyor 128a, 128b is configured to move material in a direction along a length of the screen 102a, 102b. There may be more than two zones 108a, 108b.

A substantially vertical separating column of a waste-product treatment apparatus has a cylindrical body with holes in a lateral surface, inferiorly of a waste-product supply opening. A bladed shaft rotates coaxially inside the cylindrical body. A first discharge mouth in an upper part of the cylindrical body expels a first waste-product recycling fraction, the fraction separated and transported upwards by the bladed shaft. A dilution group along the separating column supplies dilution liquid internally of the cylindrical body. A second discharge mouth in the lower part of the cylindrical body evacuates a second recycling fraction. A discharge conduit and a screw extend parallel to a tangent to the cylindrical body, facilitating extraction of the first recycling fraction to the discharge conduit. The bladed shaft comprises a rotor and, in proximity of the upper end, a plate fixed to a lateral rotor surface and arranged radially.

A substantially vertical separating column of a waste-product treatment apparatus has a cylindrical body with holes in a lateral surface, inferiorly of a waste-product supply opening. A bladed shaft rotates coaxially inside the cylindrical body. A first discharge mouth in an upper part of the cylindrical body expels a first waste-product recycling fraction, the fraction separated and transported upwards by the bladed shaft. A dilution group along the separating column supplies dilution liquid internally of the cylindrical body. A second discharge mouth in the lower part of the cylindrical body evacuates a second recycling fraction. A discharge conduit and a screw extend parallel to a tangent to the cylindrical body, facilitating extraction of the first recycling fraction to the discharge conduit. The bladed shaft comprises a rotor and, in proximity of the upper end, a plate fixed to a lateral rotor surface and arranged radially.

A device for sorting insects into two or more classes based on size, the device comprising a drum with openings along the circumference. The insects are introduced to the drum at a first end, and the openings are sized to allow a first class of the insects to exit the drum through the circumference and the openings while the second class is retained to travel to far end of the drum, thereby sorting the insects into the classes. The drum may be held at a tilt to enable flow within the drum. The drum may rotate and a built in helix or helical screw may assist with flow. Water may be poured from above or from inside to flush insects through the openings or flush stuck insects back into the interior.

A device for sorting insects into two or more classes based on size, the device comprising a drum with openings along the circumference. The insects are introduced to the drum at a first end, and the openings are sized to allow a first class of the insects to exit the drum through the circumference and the openings while the second class is retained to travel to far end of the drum, thereby sorting the insects into the classes. The drum may be held at a tilt to enable flow within the drum. The drum may rotate and a built in helix or helical screw may assist with flow. Water may be poured from above or from inside to flush insects through the openings or flush stuck insects back into the interior.

A reactor system has a number of stations arranged to recover mineral particles in a slurry. The system includes a hopper to receive the slurry and barren media having hydrophobic coating to attract the mineral particles. The hopper provides a mixture of barren media and slurry to a tumbler arranged to stir the mixture in order to increase the contact between the slurry and the barren media so as to allow the mineral particles to attach to the barren media to form mineral laden media. The mineral laden media are conveyed to a rinsing station where water jets are used to wash the gangue materials off the mineral laden media. The rinsed mineral laden media are mixed with a surfactant so that the mineral particles are released from the mineral laden media. High-pressure water and air jets are then used to remove remaining surfactant from the released media.

A reactor system has a number of stations arranged to recover mineral particles in a slurry. The system includes a hopper to receive the slurry and barren media having hydrophobic coating to attract the mineral particles. The hopper provides a mixture of barren media and slurry to a tumbler arranged to stir the mixture in order to increase the contact between the slurry and the barren media so as to allow the mineral particles to attach to the barren media to form mineral laden media. The mineral laden media are conveyed to a rinsing station where water jets are used to wash the gangue materials off the mineral laden media. The rinsed mineral laden media are mixed with a surfactant so that the mineral particles are released from the mineral laden media. High-pressure water and air jets are then used to remove remaining surfactant from the released media.

A system for collecting mercury from feed material that can be tailings comprises: a water inlet for forming a slurry containing the tailings; at least one screen for separating tailings greater than ¼ inch in diameter from the slurry to form a screened slurry; a rotatable collection chamber containing a plurality of plates, a drive for rotating the collection chamber for collecting mercury on the plates to provide a discharge material comprising water and treated tailings, the treated tailings containing less mercury than in the feed material.

A system for collecting mercury from feed material that can be tailings comprises: a water inlet for forming a slurry containing the tailings; at least one screen for separating tailings greater than ¼ inch in diameter from the slurry to form a screened slurry; a rotatable collection chamber containing a plurality of plates, a drive for rotating the collection chamber for collecting mercury on the plates to provide a discharge material comprising water and treated tailings, the treated tailings containing less mercury than in the feed material.