Importance

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Abstract

A unitary system for recycling contaminated solid material such as plastic chips having contaminants on the surface includes an elongated vessel having an inlet for contaminated solid material adjacent one end and an outlet for cleaned solid material at a second end. A plurality of divider walls are spaced apart along the length of the vessel to form a plurality of discrete, separate, spaced apart treatment chambers and each chamber is adapted for holding an individual charge of solid material being treated. Charges in the chambers are moved simultaneously from chamber to chamber from the inlet toward the outlet. Piping is provided for introducing various liquid media into the respective treatment chambers for washing away the contaminants from the surface of the solid material. During each operational cycle, the vessel is rotated at a suitable speed in an oscillating fashion to provide washing action as basher bars move the contaminated solid material through the liquid medium. Each chamber is provided with a plurality of radially oriented basher bars which force the floatable solid material downwardly and through the liquid medium for removal of the contaminants. After a treatment cycle, the liquid medium and contaminants carried thereby are removed from the chamber and the contaminated liquid medium is recycled by removal and separation of the contaminants therefrom so that the liquid medium can be used again in the same or another system.

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First Claim