The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material, at least one second material and at least one third material, which comprises at least the following steps: (A) providing a mixture comprising at least one first material, at least one second material, at least one third material and at least one hydrocarbon in an amount of more than 0.4% by weight, based on the sum of mixture, in the presence or 10 absence of at least one dispersion medium, (B) if appropriate, addition of at least one dispersion medium to the mixture obtained in step (A) in order to obtain a dispersion, (C) treatment of the dispersion from step (A) or (B) with at least one hydrophobic magnetic particle, so that the at least one first material and the at least one magnetic particle agglomerate, (D) separation of the adduct from step (C) from the mixture by application of a magnetic field, (E) if appropriate, dissociation of the adduct which has been separated off in step (D) in order to obtain the at least one first material and the at least one magnetic particle separately.