Patent ID: 8541709

Claim:
A method for electrostatically separating a mixture of granules of different materials, comprising: a) injection, between two electrodes in a separation chamber delimited by walls and provided with an air inlet and outlet, of a current of fluidizing air; b) introduction of the mixture of granules of different materials into the current of fluidizing air; c) control of the current of fluidizing air, so that the granules levitate in the current of air in a turbulent mode and become electrically charged by contacts between them or with the walls of the separation chamber; d) generation of an electric field between the two electrodes, substantially perpendicularly to the direction of the current of air, such that the granules charged in the control c) are displaced either in the direction of the electric field if they are charged positively or in the opposite direction if their charge is negative; e) adhesion of the charged granules to the surface of the electrodes; and f) removal and collection of the granules adhered to each electrode.