Process for separating mineral wool fibers from nonfibrous materials

摘要

A process is provided for the separation of nonfibrous material from mineral wool fibers which comprises dispersing the fibers in an aqueous solution comprising a surfactant having at least one hydrophobic group containing at least eight carbon atoms and at least one cationic hydrophilic group having at least one nitrogen or sulfur atom, such as a quaternary ammonium surfactant. The fibrous material is dispersible in the surfactant solution, while the nonfibrous material is not and consequently can be separated by centrifuging or settling and decantation.