Technology

Our new magnetic density separation technologies create an apparent density range inside a ferromagnetic fluid in order to create multiple density fractions in a single process.

The Principle

The most important feature of this new concept derives from its ability to accurately separate many different materials in a single process step, using an environmentally friendly and cheap process fluid. Because of its intrinsic flexibility, this technology can easily be implemented to separate many kinds of mixed input materials in an economically sound way. It has proven to produce pure mono material streams at high capacity. Processing costs are lower than currently used sorting technologies.

The process fluid consists of a dilute mixture of water and ferrous oxide and is brought in a magnetic field. When such liquid is placed above a magnet, it is affected by the magnetic field and by the gravitational field. A density gradient is established from the magnet upward so that the effective density of the liquid decreases with distance from the magnet since the magnetic field strength reduces. Thus, far from the magnet where the magnetic field can be ignored the density of the liquid is the water density (the low ferrous oxide concentration may be ignored). According to the same principle, when a magnet is placed above the liquid, the magnetic field affects the liquid in the opposite direction of the gravitational field creating an apparent liquid density that is lower than water. This enables materials lighter than water to sink in the liquid.

At the points where the density of the liquid equals the density of the particles, e.g. the type A material, they remain suspended. The same will happen at a lower point for the heavier type B material and at an even lower point for the heaviest type C particles.

The light particles will float on the surface while the heavier ones will be suspended in the liquid below at different depths according to their increasing density. By setting splitters at the right positions, the necessary separations for the production of pure material fractions of equal densities can be combined in one process.

The light particles will float on the surface while the heavier ones will be suspended in the liquid below at different depths according to their increasing density. By setting splitters at the right positions, the necessary separations for the production of pure material fractions of equal densities can be combined in one process.

The MDS innovation is an unique patented technology

Benefits

The MDS is a truly breakthrough separation technology that can be regarded as an advanced sink-floating technology, though with unique distinguishing properties. It is also much wider applicable in terms of particle size and weight.

Compared to conventional technology, among its unique features MDS has:

High quality sorting – an accuracy of density separation of less than 10 kg/m3
Single step, multi sorting of material
High throughputs possible
Excellent Process and Quality Control
Economic scalable towards user’s specific situation

Characteristics of the material to be processed:

Minimum particle size 10um
Maximum particle size 14 mm
Density range - available up on request

Urban Mining Corp is developing different machines depending on field of application:

MDS installations for plastics (e.g. packaging polymers, technical polymers)
MDS installations for heavy particles (e.g. heavy non-ferrous metals)
MDS installations for analysis and small batches (e.g. seeds upgrading, coal analysis)
MDS installations for fine materials (e.g. diamond tailings, pigments)

Separation in multiple narrow density classes in one go:

Do not hesitate to contact us for more information

MDS video

Demonstration unit is available for testing trial batches

Research

Urban Mining Corp has a research and development program targeting continuous improvement in our ability to convert complex material mixtures into high grade products. Although our MDS technology has proved to be economically beneficial on industrial scale we see potential to even further upgrade the MDS system and its products.

An example is the R&D we currently perform in the field of packaging waste recycling on high frequency color sorting of small polymer flakes. In the future, this will enable us to provide not only high product grades in terms of polymer type (e.g. PE) but also to provide customer specific colors.

Another example is our effort in developing quality control systems that will enable accurate on line product quality information.

Although our goals are ambitious, we strongly believe they form an inevitable condition to achieve sustainable and structural circular systems. You’re always welcome to share your thoughts on this topic.

MDS test installation in the R&D laboratiry in Delft, The Netherlands:

R&D for continuous process improvement