ElectroStatic Separators Destined for Australia

Bunting Magnetics has designed and built two ElectroStatic Separators for a metal recovery company based in Australia.  The metal separation technology will recover precious metals from shredded printed circuit boards.

The electrostatic separator provides the only known method of removing or recovering metals from certain recycled materials.  Separation occurs by inducing an electrostatic charge into a conductive dry-liberated particle.  Electrostatic separators are commonly used in conjunction with magnetic separators for ferrous metal recovery, and Eddy Current Separators that separate larger non-ferrous metals. 

In operation, an ElectroStatic Separator exploits the difference in electrical conductivity between various materials in a feed material to produce a separation.  The ability to produce a separation depends on a number of key material characteristics such as conductivity, moisture content (the material must be dry), and particle size range.

ElectroStatic technology utilises the difference in conductivity between insulators (e.g. plastics) and conductors (e.g. copper and aluminium) to obtain a separation on an earthed roll.  The insulators are pinned to the earthed roll via an image force whilst the conductors lose their charge and are thrown from the roll by the centrifugal force generated.

The two ElectroStatic Separators for Australia are both 1000mm wide and have fully integrated controls.

“The recycling company in Australia had been researching technology for separating small precious metals and approached us to conduct tests at our Customer Experience Centre in the UK,” explained Bradley Goodwood, Bunting Magnetics’ Head of European and International Sales.  “After analysing the test results, the client ordered two units, which are now on the way to Australia.”