Electrostatic separator and electrostatic separation method

Abstract

An electrostatic separation method includes: applying voltage between a lower electrode at a bottom portion of or in the raw material layer and an upper electrode above the raw material layer, generating an electric field between electrodes; fluidizing the raw material layer and bringing conductive particles and the lower electrode into contact in the raw material layer charging only the conductive particles wherein their polarity becomes the same as the lower electrode; generating polarity, the same as the upper electrode, by dielectric polarization on a conveyor belt downward-facing conveyance surface passing through a capture region above the raw material layer and under the upper electrode, the conveyance surface including a nonconductor; separates charged conductive particles from the raw material layer surface by electrostatic force and adhering conductive particles to the conveyor belt conveyance surface; and separating and collecting the particles from the conveyance surface that moved outside the electric field.