Abstract
Gravity separation of plastic, rubber and wire harness in automobile shredder dust is investigated using a gas-solid fluidized bed. Uni-beads (barium silicatitanate glass), zircon sands and glass beads are employed as fluidized particles. Floating and sinking of plastic, rubber and wire harness in the fluidized bed are examined by changing the superficial air velocity. The wire harness is almost completely separated from the other components by using Uni-beads and zircon sands. The plastic can be separated from the rubber by using glass beads, although the separation efficiency is relatively low. Precise adjustment of superficial air velocity is essential to attain high separation efficiency because the particle flow and air bubbles in the fluidized bed affect the floating and sinking of the dust.
