Aluminum and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) make up the solid after the methyl ethyl alcohol addition. Because aluminum and PET have different densities, they are separated by adding to a liquid with a density of 1.6, saltwater. Saltwater is an ideal liquid for this purpose because both water and salt are common and readily available. The density can be easily adjusted in the rare occasion that the solution density strays from 1.6.

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