The use of air separation in recycling CRT TV sets

•Air separation is used to separate metals from one fraction of CRT TV sets.•The fraction consisting of yokes of a cathode tube, cables, connectors and wires was tested.•Model of cross-flow gravity air separator with horizontal flow was used in testing.•Of the four tested classes, grain size −0.5 mm showed the best results.•The Analysis of Variance showed that the splitter height and feed position have the strongest effect on separation.

The aim of this paper is to examine the possibility of use of air separation in recycling CRT TV sets and determine the effect of operating variables of separators. Eight CRT TV sets were collected and after manual disassembly, parts of CRT TV sets were sorted into four fractions taking into account their properties. The subject of this research was the fraction consisting of yokes of a cathode tube, cables, connectors and wires. Testing samples were obtained by manual disassembly, shredding and sieving, after which the separation on the model of a cross-flow gravity air separator with horizontal flow was carried out. Four grain sizes, 4/2 mm, 2/1 mm, 1/0.5 mm and −0.5 mm, were tested on the separator. Testing was carried out according to the central composite design for three factors: splitter height, air velocity and feed position. The evaluation of results was carried out by the analysis of two parameters: concentrate grade and recovery. The obtained values of the concentrate grade varied from 45.9% for the smallest grain size of −0.5 mm to 89.4% for the grain size of 1/0.5 mm while recovery was very high, mostly over 99%. The highest increase of metal content in the concentrate of 21.1% was recorded for the smallest grain size of −0.5%. The Analysis of Variance showed that the splitter height and feed position have the strongest effect on the concentrate grade.