Electrostatic separation for multi-size granule of crushed printed circuit board waste using two-roll separator

The electrostatic separation is an effective method for recycle of crushed waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). However, the robustness of the classical roll-type separator is vulnerable because of its sensitivity to variation of granule size. A new “two-roll type corona-electrostatic separator” was built to overcome the limitation of the classical one considering the actual situation of the industrial application which always contains granule with different size. Multi-size granule of crushed printed circuit board (PCB) wastes was used for investigation and the results showed that the efficiency of the separation process was improved by using the new separator. Compared with the process (lower voltage) performed on the old separator, the metal products increased 34% while the middling products reduced 73%, respectively. Compared with the process (higher voltage) performed on the old separator, the metal products increased 22% while the middling products reduced 59%, respectively. In addition, the metal component of the middling products using new machine notably decreased, 33% (new machine) compared with 58% (lower voltage) and 66% (higher voltage). The efficiency of the separation process is enhanced compared with the classical one.