Α Comparative Analysis of Density and Electrostatic Separation Techniques for Recycling Copper and Plastic from Cable Waste
Received: 30 July 2025 | Revised: 9 September 2025 | Accepted: 27 September 2025 | Online: 14 October 2025
Corresponding author: Abdennour Bouziane
Abstract
The recycling of cable waste is essential for sustainable material management, given its substantial content of valuable resources, such as copper and plastic. This study compares two separation methods: the mechanical separation (density-based separation) and electrostatic separation, for the efficient recovery of copper and plastic from cable waste. Laboratory-scale trials using a density table and a roll-type electrostatic separator were conducted to assess the performance, focusing on the influence of varying operational parameters. The results show that density separation achieved copper recovery rates up to 96.5% under optimal conditions, demonstrating significant resilience to environmental humidity fluctuations. In contrast, electrostatic separation produced high-purity fractions at optimized settings (28 kV, 80 rpm), but its efficiency was significantly compromised under elevated humidity due to increased plastic particle conductivity. Based on this study, a hybrid strategy that integrates both techniques to enhance recycling efficiency in industrial-scale operations is proposed.
Keywords:
cable waste recycling, copper recovery, density separation, electrostatic separation, plastic separation, hybrid recycling techniquesDownloads
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Copyright (c) 2025 Abdennour Bouziane, Farouk Benallel Boukhoulda, Amar Tilmatine
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