A model for movement behaviors of the metal/polymer combined particles in corona electrostatic separator

Abstract

Metal/polymer combined recycled resources such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electric wires have various valuable metal. Therefore, metal recovery from the metal/polymer combined resources is the important recycling operation. Metal recovery process is mostly consist of crushing, grinding and separation process. Corona electrostatic separation is recommended for concentrating of ground metal/polymer combined materials. Meanwhile, the metal/polymer combined materials were not completely dissociated when they had been milled because they are composed of their unique coupled structure. Thus, the separation feeds, which are products after crushing and milling, are composed of almost metal and polymer together. In consideration of that, a model was derived for predicting for movement behaviour of the metal/polymer combined particles in corona electrostatic separator. And then numerical study was conducted by simulating the model. And experimental study was conducted for confirming validity of numerical study results. Numerical study results on movement behaviours of particle have a good agreement with and experimental study results. The model can be used for separating the metal/polymer composite according to the metal grade.