Separating Aluminum and copper scrap

[jlarocque]

Is there a cost efficient way to separate mixed copper and aluminum

JL

 

[unclesyd]

Checkout the equipment on this site, one of many that offer separation equipment that will do your separation.

There are also several different companies that make separators specific for CU/Al that operate using "Electromagnetic Induction"

http://www.eriez.com/Products/Markets/Recycling/?gclid=CNuv85DOv5kCFRxN5QodNTsutw

 

[arunmrao]

Can you separate out on the basis of densities,there is a ratio of 3 between the two densities.

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." — Thomas Edison
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[jlarocque]

Then what do ou use to separate using different densities

JL

 

[btrueblood]

"Then what do ou use to separate using different densities "

Flotation, if you can use a dense enough fluid. There are aqueous salt solutions with densities high enough to float aluminum, while letting copper sink. Some commercial vendors:

http://www.cargille.com/heavyliq.shtml

http://lmtliquid.com/price-comparisons.html

Recovery of the fluid for re-use is the catch here.

If not, then differential sink rates in a viscous fluid (you would need to process the scrap to get similar-sized particles).

Both technologies are probably best developed in mining applications.

 

[Ron]

Air separators work on density variances as well.

 

[ornerynorsk]

It's called high school or college students with a brief training session so they can identify the different metals. Cost <$15 per hour, with no capital outlay.

 

[jlarocque]

haha I like your suggestion

JL

 

[Ron]

I actually did that as a side job in college...didn't pay $15 though, but then that was quite a while back!! Also got to bail aluminum cans...nasty job!