The ST separator utilizes electrical charge differences between materials, produced by surface contact known as triboelectric charging. When two materials are in contact, the material with the highest affinity for electrons becomes negatively charged, while the other becomes positively charged. This contact exchange of charge is universally observed for all materials, at times causing electrostatic nuisances that are a problem in some industries. Electron affinity is dependent on the surface properties and will result in substantial differential charging of materials in a mixture of discrete particles.
The process is entirely dry requiring no additional materials and producing zero waste.
A unique feature of the technology stems from action of a continuous loop high-speed belt that creates counter-curent flow of the separating particles and triboelectric separation charging and recharging within the separator.