Abstract: A continuous contactor comprises a rotary tubular rotor through which the streams to be contacted flow. The rotor has an inner wall which is substantially cylindrical and an outer wall spaced from the inner wall. The rotor is divided internally into a number of rings of buckets by axial and radial separators. Each bucket has an opening in the cylindrical inner wall at the leading part of the bucket with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: The invention describes the extraction of values, especially metal values such as copper and uranium, from minerals by passing the mineral in admixture with a leaching agent for the values through a contactor and extracting the values with an extractant stream immiscible with the mixture and of lesser density so that the values are captured by the extractant and can be withdrawn with the extractant and, if desired, isolated by any suitable means.

Abstract: A process as described for extracting at least two desired constituents from a mineral using a liquid reagent which produces the constituents, or compounds thereof, in separable form and independently extracting those constituents, or compounds thereof. The process if especially valuable for the extraction of phosphoric acid and metal values, such as uranium from phosphate rock.

Abstract: A process is described for the separation of impurities from an aqueous slurry, dispersion or suspension. Streams of aqueous phase and an organic phase comprising a non-polar organic liquid are passed through a multi-compartment rotary contactor. A collector reagent is present during at least part of the passage of the streams through the contactor and gives the impurities a hydrophobic surface. The phases are contacted by continuously bringing the aqueous and solvent phases into contact with one another while maintaining an interface between the two phases. The two phases and the interfacial layer containing at least some of the impurities are independently withdrawn.

Abstract: A process for treatment of a liquid stream, optionally comprising solids such as minerals, comprises passing at least two different treating reagents through contactors each comprising a drum with a rotor having axially spaced discs compartmentalizing the drum interior and carrying receptacles which rotate with the rotor and cause transfer of portions of one phase in the contactor to the other phase as the rotor turns. The liquid stream being treated is caused to flow along a path including, in succession, parts of each contactor so that the liquid stream is brought into contact with the reagents successively and in rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting immiscible or partly miscible liquids, for example in an extraction process in the form of a container through which the liquids flow having a plurality of discs arranged to rotate and dividing the container into connected compartments, a ring of foraminous material, capable of receiving and temporarily storing liquid, being arranged between at least one pair of discs, so that, in use, liquid is carried from one phase and shed in the other phase.

Abstract: A continuous liquid/liquid or liquid/solids contactor consists of a rotary contactor having a near horizontal axis. The interior of the drum is divided axially into a number of compartments by spaced discs secured to the drum wall and having openings through which the materials to be contacted can pass from one end to the other of the drum. In each compartment, there are a number of buckets which are carried by the discs and which in operation serve to cause intermingling of the materials to be contacted. At the ends of the drum are inlet and outlet passing through rotary joints in the drum ends and carrying the streams to be brought into contact.

Abstract: A solids/liquid contactor comprises a drum through which a slurry phase and a treatment liquid phase pass, a rotor within the drum including a plurality of axially-spaced discs dividing the drum interior into a series of compartments, the edges of the discs being spaced from the wall of the drum to form an annular passage for the movement of the phases from compartment to compartment, for each of at least some of the compartments, a plurality of receptacles mounted to rotate with the rotor and designed to receive material of one phase and to shower it into the other phase as the rotor turns, and at least one blade which is carried by the rotor, which penetrates into the annular passage, and which is operable to maintain the passage at least partly clear of stationary solids.