Paper Title
Response Surface Modelling Methodology For Optimization of Triboelectrostatic Separation of PVC Fine Particles

Abstract
Tribo-electrostatic separation of micronized particle mixtures from plastic waste remains a major challenge for researchers. Indeed, the aerodynamic forces exerted on such particles often outweigh the gravitational and electrostatic forces. A patent application was filed for a new separator model realized and tested at the University of Sidi Bel-Abbes. The device comprises two parallel rotating disks, arranged vertically and connected to two DC high voltage supplies of opposite polarities. The experimental study, made with a mixture of micronized particles of white PVC and gray PVC, having an average size of 50 μm, is aimed at evaluating the influence of different factors (inter-electrode distance, applied high voltage, disk rotation speed and fluidization air flow rate) on the triboelectric charge acquired by the particles and on the efficiency of the separation. A plan for composite face-centered experiments has been developed. The results obtained showed that among all the factors studied. The strength of the electric field has the most significant influence. Keywords - Tribo-electrostatic Separator, Recycling, Fluidized Bed, Micronized Plastic Materials, Experimental Modeling