Electrostatic Separator
Electrostatic separators provide the only mechanical separation method available for mineral and recycling applications.
This equipment utilizes the differences in electrical conductivity between materials in a feed stream to achieve an efficient separation process. Material properties such as conductivity, moisture content, and particle size are critical for achieving maximum efficiency.
In applications where the particle size range is narrow (for example, –2 mm granulated cable scrap), the Electrostatic Separator can perform the entire separation using a single technology. This technology is increasingly replacing environmentally unfriendly separation methods used in mineral processing, such as froth flotation (e.g., separating zircon from silica sand).
Electrostatic separation technology works by exploiting the conductivity difference between insulators (plastics) and conductors (copper and aluminum) on a grounded roll. It can be supplied as a single-stage or double-stage system and is available in three feed width options—500, 1000, and 1500 mm—to handle different capacity requirements.
Electrostatic separators are commonly used in facilities that process minerals, produce plastics, and recycle secondary metals.
Typical Applications
• Cable recycling: separation of plastics (insulators) from conductors (copper and aluminum)
• Separation of individual conductors (copper and aluminum)
• Secondary metal recycling
• Mineral processing (e.g., separation of beach sands in combination with high-intensity magnetic separators)
• Plastic recycling (e.g., separating aluminum from plastics in shredded window frames)
• Other applications such as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) recycling