Patent ID: 7973258

Claim:
A high-tension electrostatic separator for separating more conductive particles from less conductive particles based on their differing conductivity from a mixture of such particles in a matter stream, the high-tension electrostatic separator comprising: a feed system for conveying the matter stream, said feed system comprising a first end on which the matter stream is deposited and a second end to which the matter stream is transported over said feed system, a rotating drum located at about said second end, said rotating drum is connected to ground, said feed system deposits the matter stream onto said rotating drum; said rotating drum rotates to move the matter stream that is deposited on it, an ionizing electrode located downstream of said feed system and above said rotating drum, said ionizing electrode connected to a high voltage power source to generate a corona discharge of charged ions from said ionizing electrode to said rotating drum in the path of the matter stream; said corona discharge electrically charges the surface of the particles in the matter stream pinning them said rotating drum; a lifting electrode located downstream of said ionizing electrode, said lifting electrode made from a material comprising a non-conductive polymer impregnated with conductive particles, said lifting electrode creating an electrical field that induces the more conductive particles in the matter stream to deviate from their natural trajectory as they fall off the rotating drum.