Continuous dry material separation from automobile shredder residue

Gravity separation technology using a gas-solid fluidized bed was applied to continuous separation of components of automobile shredder residue. A dry continuous gravity separation apparatus having mechanisms of taking away floating and sinking objects in the fluidized bed was developed. Zircon sand was used as the fluidized powder, and the superficial air velocity was controlled at u₀/u_mf= 1.1-1.3, where u_mf is the minimum fluidization velocity. Plastic & rubber and wire were taken away as floating and sinking objects respectively. Purity and recovery of the components were more than 90%. Separation of urethane, plastic & rubber, wire and nonferrous metal was investigated by using a pneumatic separation apparatus and the dry continuous gravity separation apparatus. Urethane and nonferrous metal were separated by the pneumatic separation. The remainder was treated by the dry continuous gravity separation, and plastic & rubber and wire were separated high purity and recovery. Although the methods of pneumatic separation and gravity separation by the fluidized bed are simple, the components of automobile shredder residue were separated effectively.