An apparatus for sorting particles composed of a mixture of particles with
differing physical and chemical characteristics. The apparatus includes a
comminutor, a mechanism for removing particles from the inside of the
comminutor which are intermediate in size between the feed to the
comminutor and the product of comminution, a mechanism for either
discharging particles taken from the comminutor to a reject stream or
providing them to a size classification apparatus such as screening, a
mechanism for returning the oversize particles to the comminutor or for
discharging them to the reject stream, an electric mechanism for
separating particles with an electrical force disposed adjacent to a
magnet mechanism, a mechanism for providing the particles to the magnet
mechanism and the electric mechanism and for providing triboelectric and
capacitive charges to the particles, and a mechanism for returning one of
the products of electric and magnetic separation to the comminutor while
discharging the other to the reject stream. A method for sorting
particles composed of a mixture of particles with differing physical and
chemical characteristics.