All incoming material is subjected to stringent quality control measures. The material is characterized from on-site and outside laboratories to determine mineral composition, size distribution, and other physical and environmental parameters. Many of the minerals that BEI supplies are derived from a blending of the various 'used' materials with some virgin makeup. From BEI's database of available 'used' materials a 'recipe' or mixture is determined. A computer algorithm optimizes the amount of recycled material utilized in the outgoing product.
Material is reprocessed as per specifications.
Unit processes at BEI include magnetic separation, grinding, crushing, screening, washing, drying, classifying, and stabilizing. As an example for slag-processing to be used for abrasive blasting, particle size distribution and hardness are key parameters. Barnes Environmental's roots extend back to 1870 as a supplier of foundry sands and construction aggregates. In the 1940's, the company began recycling damaged septic drain and roofing tiles into products used for building tennis courts. In the 1950's the company began to use refractory brick in products such as ladle gunning mixes for the metal-casting industy.