Methods of Processing Waste Material to Render a Compostable Product
First Claim
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1. A method of sorting waste material to separate compostable material, comprising:
- sizing a waste material to be a first size waste material;
delivering the first size waste material to a sizing screen;
separating out a second size waste material from the first size waste material by use of a sizing screen, wherein the second size waste material is removed and the remaining first size waste material is referred to as suitable size waste material;
delivering to a first vibrating feeder the suitable size waste material;
vibrating the suitable size waste material;
sorting the suitable size waste material in a first sorter in order to separate the suitable size waste material into a first organic fraction and a first inorganic fraction;
vibrating the first organic fraction in a second vibrating feeder;
sorting the first organic fraction in a second sorter into a second organic fraction and a second inorganic fraction so that the second organic fraction contains less inorganic material than the first organic fraction;
collecting the second organic fraction.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods of processing municipal solid waste in order to isolate a compostable product. The methods and system disclosed allow for municipal solid waste to be separated into an organic fraction and an inorganic fraction. The purity of the organic fraction may be enhanced in certain methods. The overall yield of organic material may be increased by subjecting inorganic material to further separation steps.
22 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of sorting waste material to separate compostable material, comprising:
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sizing a waste material to be a first size waste material; delivering the first size waste material to a sizing screen; separating out a second size waste material from the first size waste material by use of a sizing screen, wherein the second size waste material is removed and the remaining first size waste material is referred to as suitable size waste material; delivering to a first vibrating feeder the suitable size waste material; vibrating the suitable size waste material; sorting the suitable size waste material in a first sorter in order to separate the suitable size waste material into a first organic fraction and a first inorganic fraction; vibrating the first organic fraction in a second vibrating feeder; sorting the first organic fraction in a second sorter into a second organic fraction and a second inorganic fraction so that the second organic fraction contains less inorganic material than the first organic fraction; collecting the second organic fraction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13)
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9. A method of sorting waste material to separate compostable material, comprising:
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sizing a waste material to be a first size waste material; delivering the first size waste material to a sizing screen; separating out a second size waste material from the first size waste material by use of a sizing screen, wherein the second size waste material is removed and the remaining first size waste material is referred to as suitable size waste material; delivering to a first vibrating feeder the suitable size waste material; vibrating the suitable size waste material; sorting the suitable size waste material in a first sorter in order to separate the suitable size waste material into a first organic fraction and a first inorganic fraction; vibrating the first inorganic fraction in a second vibrating feeder; sorting the first inorganic fraction in a second sorter into a second organic fraction and a second inorganic fraction so that the second inorganic fraction contains less organic material than the first inorganic fraction; collecting the second organic fraction. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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14. A sorting system, comprising:
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a sizing screen, wherein the sizing screen defines a plurality of interfacial openings of a second size so that second size or smaller waste material is filtered out from a waste material being sorted by the sizing screen; a first vibrating feeder positioned to receive the waste material from the sizing screen so that the waste material being sorted is received and vibrated; an accelerated conveyor positioned to receive the waste material from the first vibrating feeder; a first sorting device positioned to receive the waste material from the accelerated conveyor, wherein the first sorting device is calibrated to sort the waste material into a first organic fraction and a first inorganic fraction; a second vibrating feeder positioned to receive the first organic fraction from the first sorting device; a second sorting device positioned to receive the first organic fraction from the second vibrating feeder, wherein the second sorting device is calibrated to sort the first organic fraction into a second organic fraction and a second inorganic fraction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification