WTE industry: Magnetic separation equipment helps recover marketable metals

Magnetic equipment that separates lucrative amounts of metals from the inbound or residue streams attached to waste-to-energy (WTE) and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) application processes enables operators to take full advantage of current conditions where price and demand for steel is surging to record highs.

With decades of experience and an extensive line of innovative magnetic separation products, Eriez experts are said to identify and customize the right equipment for these tasks.

Waste-to-energy and RDF plants utilize unique processes and require different metal recovery techniques since material in each application is vastly different in size and composition, according to Eriez Heavy Industry market manager Darrell Milton.

When it comes to recovering metals from bottom ash in WTE applications, Eriez typically recommends two pieces of equipment: Eriez P-Rex permanent drum magnets and eddy current separators.

“Eriez’ introduction of the P-Rex magnetic drum into the WTE market has provided our customers a significant increase in ferrous metal recoveries, in some cases over 50%,” says Darrell Milton of Eriez.

“The P-Rex Scrap Drum Magnet has many advantages over competitive drum magnets,” says Milton.

“Most notable of all is its incredible magnetic strength and imperceptibility to heat soak.” Milton also notes the P-Rex has a proven track record of providing significant financial benefits for WTE customers.

“Eriez’ introduction of the P-Rex magnetic drum into the WTE market has provided our customers a significant increase in ferrous metal recoveries, in some cases over 50%,” he says.

Milton continues, “Record steel prices bring remarkable opportunities to WTE.”

The eddy current separator handles nonferrous fragments including fines. Its eccentric rotor produces a powerful focused field to deliver unmatched performance.

“Within RDF plants, inbound material is treated pre-burn via shredding, screening and metal separation,” Milton explains.

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“In this case, Eriez can provide a magnetic separator for ferrous material recovery and an eddy current separator for nonferrous metals recovery.”

Milton says that this powerful combination produces excellent results with high metal separation efficiency.

Click here to learn more about Eriez magnetic separation equipment for WTE processing, visit . From this page, readers can download the P-Rex Scrap Drum white paper.