Abstract: A method for magnetically beneficiating an ore by removing therefrom undesired metallic minerals of inherently low magnetic attractability. An aqueous dispersed slurry of the ore is formed, and the slurry is mixed with a system of transiently suspended ferrimagnetic particles of predominantly colloidal size. The particles are further characterized by an isoelectric point in relation to the mineral sought to be removed, such that the particles spontaneously co-flocculate with the mineral to seed same. The resultant seeded slurry is passed through a porous ferromagnetic matrix in the presence of a magnetic field, which separates the seeded mineral at the matrix, with the purified ore emerging from the matrix being recovered as product. This beneficiated product, i.e. now relatively free of the undesired species, can then (as appropriate) be further processed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the purification of glass, obtained by froth flotation from shredded municipal trash; more particularly, the present invention relates to a process for removing aluminum oxide, especially corundum, and silicon carbide particles or stones, of a size greater than 60 mesh, as impurities from the glass. The process comprises subjecting the froth-floated glass to magnetic separation, especially high intensity magnetic separation, such as that produced by employing a high intensity induced roll magnetic separator. Since such impurities function unexpectedly as magnetics in relation to glass, the refractory impurities are removed from the glass during such magnetic separation. The resulting purified glass can then be employed as glass cullet for production of finished glass articles.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating a relatively more magnetic material from a relatively less magnetic material comprising passing the material being processed through a plurality of regions, each region having a relatively more magnetic segment and a relatively less magnetic segment, such that the plurality of regions are arranged so as to comprise alternating relatively more magnetic and relatively less magnetic segments, which regions are aligned at an angle other than 90.degree. in the plane of the surface of the regions to the direction of the resultant nonmagnetic forces such that the relatively more magnetic material has a tendency to travel at an angle to the direction of flow of the relatively less magnetic material thereby effecting the separation. Preferably each of the regions is aligned from 0.degree. to about 30.degree. with respect to each adjacent region.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved device and method for the high gradient magnetic beneficiation of dry pulverized coal, for the purpose of removing sulfur and ash from the coal whereby the product is a dry environmentally acceptable, low-sulfur fuel. The process involves upwardly directed recirculating air fluidization of selectively sized powdered coal in a separator having sections of increasing diameters in the direction of air flow, with magnetic field and flow rates chosen for optimum separations depending upon particulate size.

Abstract: Iron ore is beneficiated using separation steps based on mineral composition without the use of separation steps based entirely on size. In a preferred sequence of steps the iron ore is passed from a ball mill through a magnetic separator where low iron content tailings are rejected and the concentrate passed to a flotation step, where a high iron content concentrate froth is made and the locked, middling particles are recirculated to the ball mill.

Abstract: In a process for beneficiating one or more mineral values of a metal oxide ore selected from the group consisting of bauxite, taconite, chrysocolla, apatite, titanium oxides and the metal oxides of Groups IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIIIB, IB, IIB and IVA by treating the ore with a metal containing compound, preferably iron carbonyl, under conditions such as to selectively enhance the magnetic susceptibility of the mineral values to the exclusion of the gangue in order to permit a separation between the values and gangue, the improvement comprising pretreating the metal oxide ore by heating it to a temperature of at least about 80.degree. C. for a time period of at least about 0.1 hours.

Abstract: Waste paper is fed into a horizontal drum and therein treated with suitable liquids to form pulp. A magnetic device is disposed adjacent one side of the drum to produce a magnetic field along one arcuate section and extending from the upper portion toward the bottom thereof. Magnetic particles mixed with the paper are carried by said arcuate section of the drum by virtue of the influence of the magnetic field until they reach the top where they leave the field and then fall downwardly into an inclined trough from which they gravitate to the exterior of the drum. Pulp is concurrently discharged from the drum.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for recovering magnetite from fly ash. Fly ash containing magnetite is made into a slurry having 5% to 10% solids by weight and the slurry is then concentrated in a settling tank to a slurry having approximately 20% solids by weight. The concentrated slurry is delivered to a magnetic separator where the magnetite is separated from the remainder of the fly ash. The magnetite is then crushed in a pulverizer to a size so that 95% of the crushed magnetite will pass through a 325 mesh sieve. The crushed magnetite is then delivered to a second magnetite separator which is weaker than the first magnetic separator to separate the crushed magnetite from any impurities. The purified crushed magnetite is then dried and stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for cleaning magnetic material attracted to a ferromagnetic matrix within a separating chamber of a magnetic separator. The magnetic material retained by the matrix is cleaned in a high pressure cleaning stage in which both a liquid medium and a gaseous medium are provided under pressure to clean the magnetic material. As the gaseous medium passes through the matrix, it does so with a pressure drop which is substantially lower than that of the liquid passing through the matrix. Consequently, as the gaseous medium expands, it transfers a portion of its kinetic energy to the liquid which provides improved and more rapid cleaning effects than known rinsing steps.

Abstract: A process for magnetically separating non-magnetic material from a mixture by combining the mixture with a magnetizing solution containing the salt of a magnetic element. The magnetic atoms attach to available sites on the molecules of the non-magnetic material so as to develop in that material a positive susceptibility. Thus the material is responsive to the influence of a magnetic field to move the material to a region where it can be analyzed or recovered. Materials with low positive or negative susceptibilities are separated by suspending them in a magnetic salt solution which when subjected to the attraction of a magnetic field develops a differential buoyancy force, pushing the diamagnetic or weak paramagnetic material strongly away from the magnet. Disclosed are solutions of ferric chloride, manganese chloride, erbium chloride, dysprosium chloride, terbium chloride, and holmium chloride.

Abstract: The method of concentrating magnetic ore consists of forcing a fluid medium to flow along guides having curved and rectilinear portions; and directing the flow by a pulsating magnetic flux, so that the heavy magnetic particles are forced towards the outer side of the guides. Less heavy particles of the nonmagnetic fraction are washed away by the flow of a fluid medium. In the curved portions of the guides, the magnetic flux coincides in direction with the centrifugal force; in the rectilinear portions of the guides, there is no centrifugal force and the magnetic flux is directed at right angles to the flow of the ore to be concentrated. The magnetic centrifugal separator includes and air-tight housing having curved portions alternating with rectilinear portions. Sources of magnetic flux are located on these portions of the housing. Means are provided to cause the magnetic flux to pulsate.

Abstract: Method for improving production rates during magnetic separation of magnetically attractable particles dispersed in a fluid carrier, as for example during separation of weakly magnetic discoloring contaminants dispersed in a clay slurry. The dispersion is passed through a ferromagnetic filamentatious matrix within a canister disposed in a magnetic field. The matrix is part of a magnetic separator system characterized by a separation parameter p, where p is a function of the geometry and magnetic and electrical properties of the separating apparatus; and of the rheological and magnetic properties of the dispersion. By determinatively adjusting the packing density of the matrix in the canister, and/or by utilizing appropriate solids content in the slurry, production rate is controlled or optimized for a given brightness increase in the clay.

Abstract: A process for the beneficiation of magnesite ores utilizes an aqueous conditioning mixture of diesel oil, pine oil and a diamine for activation of the surface of the gangue constituents so that after treatment with ferromagnetic materials, they can be easily separated from the ores by magnetic separators.

Abstract: Separating more magnetically susceptible particles from less magnetically susceptible particles carried in a fluid medium including simultaneously subjecting the medium to a magnetic field and a mechanical force field for separating the medium into a first flow in which magnetically susceptible particles magnetically flocculate under the influence of the magnetic field to form larger particles and a second flow which is adjacent and in communication with the first flow, and which moves locally transversely of the first flow; urging the larger particles from the first flow toward the second flow by means of the magnetic field and the mechanical force field and entrapping the larger particles entering the second flow by means of localized regions of high magnetic field gradient located along the path of the second flow.

Abstract: A method for magnetically separating discoloring contaminants of low magnetic attractability from a crude kaolin clay containing said contaminants. A dispersed aqueous slurry of the clay is admixed with a finely divided magnetic particulate. The slurry is thereupon passed through a porous, ferromagnetic matrix in the presence of an applied magnetic field, whereby contaminants seeded by the particulate are separated from the slurry.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are described for separating magnetizable particles from a fluid in which they are suspended. The apparatus comprises a separating chamber having an inlet and an outlet for permitting fluid to enter and leave the separating chamber, a matrix of a plurality of ferromagnetic filaments arranged substantially parallel to one another and to the general direction of flow of fluid through the matrix and disposed in the separating chamber, magnet means for establishing a high intensity magnetic field in the separating chamber perpendicular to the general direction of flow of the fluid through the matrix, and removal means for removing magnetizable particles attracted to the matrix within the separating chamber.

Abstract: A method for magnetically separating discoloring contaminants of low magnetic attractability from a crude kaolin clay containing said contaminants. A dispersed aqueous slurry of the clay is seeded with a finely divided magnetic particulate. The seeded slurry is then subjected to a magnetic field, to magnetically flocculate the contaminants and the magnetic particulate, and thereupon remove same.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for augmenting or facilitating flushing of impurities collected by a porous ferromagnetic matrix. The matrix is contained in a canister, through which an aqueous clay slurry is flowed as an applied field magnetizes the matrix to enable attraction of the discoloring magnetics. The periodic flushing of the matrix is rendered of increased efficacy, by applying auxiliary mechanical forces to dislodge the magnetics; or other disclosed means and methods may be used to facilitate the flushing operation.

Abstract: This invention is a method of recovering an expensive bearing lining alloy from a multilayer bearing material comprising the alloy bonded to a steel backing, possibly through a pure aluminium foil. The multi-layer scrap material is heated sufficiently for severance of the bond between the components to be started, and then is given repeated mechanical shocks which complete the severance of the components which can then be separated from one another by a magnetic method, or possibly by a gravitational method.

Abstract: A quantitative magnetic separator and method for isolating non-magnetic particles from contaminated magnetic powder mixtures to determine the relative purity of magnetic powder. The separation is effected by restraining the powder mixture below a relatively moving magnetic field which agitates the magnetic particles and allows the non-magnetic particles to disengage and free-fall by gravity into a receiver for subsequent measurement of the degree of contamination.

Abstract: In a coal gasification operation or similar process carried out in the presence of an alkali metal-containing catalyst wherein spent solids containing ash and alkali metal catalyst residues are produced, alkali metal constituents are recovered from the spent solids by first removing magnetic constituents from the solids, contacting the solid particles from which magnetic constituents have been separated with an acid solution to extract alkali metal constituents from the solids and produce a spent acid solution enriched in alkali metal salts, raising the pH of the enriched solution sufficiently to precipitate aluminum from the solution as aluminum hydroxide, heating the remaining solution to precipitate silicon compounds, and recovering an enriched alkali metal solution from which aluminum and silicon compounds have been removed.

Abstract: In the method and apparatus described a high intensity magnetic field is established in a first zone. A quantity of fluid having magnetizable particles suspended therein is passed through a first separating chamber containing magnetizable packing material and disposed within the first zone, so that the magnetizable particles are magnetized by the magnetic field and attracted to the packing material. The first separating chamber is then moved out of the first zone and into a second zone and a second separating chamber containing magnetizable packing material is moved into the first zone.

Abstract: The concentrations of hyperfine particles in a fluid are monitored by flowing a predetermined quantity of the particle-containing fluid over a substrate in the presence of a force field which "collects" the particles onto the substrate. The particles may be deposited on the substrate according to size, so that one can readily ascertain not only the particle concentration in the fluid, but the size distribution of the particles as well. This technique greatly concentrates the particles so that one can usually detect and monitor materials having extremely small particulate concentrations in the fluid from which they are collected.

Abstract: A magnetic separator in which the substance to be treated is passed in one direction through a body of foraminous, magnetically susceptible material of significant extent, while traversing in another direction a magnetic field extending in still another direction, the directions being substantially orthogonal. Vibration is applied to the body, preferably linear and preferably in generally the direction of the field. The field opposes the passage of magnetic particles though the body while the vibrator promotes the passage of non-magnetic particles, so that they emerge from the body at different locations for separate collection. The body is conveniently a hollow cylinder built up of sections of magnetic stainless steel screening folded and shaped, and the movement of the body is preferably rotation, the substance being applied to an outer cylindrical surface of the body and emerging from an inner, concentric cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A process for recovering reusable suspended metal catalyst with a pre-determined minimum particle size from a suspension of metal particles in a liquid phase by subjecting the suspension to a continuously moving magnetic field of a minimum intensity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating magnetically susceptible particles from a mixture of magnetically susceptible particles and non-magnetic or less magnetically susceptible particles in which a stream containing the mixture in a fluidized condition is introduced under pressure or under gravity into one end of an arcuate separation channel having an inlet end and an outlet end and arcuate inner and outer walls and at least one connecting wall which confine the steam and constrain it to flow in a single unidirectional arcuate path along the channel in frictional contact with the inner and outer walls and with the connecting wall, the velocity of the stream and the frictional resistance to flow being such that the stream is subject to sufficient centrifugal force as it flows around the channel that there is produced in the channel a secondary circulation radially outwardly within the body of the stream and then radially inwardly, in which the stream during its passage around the channel is subjected to a radi

Abstract: A process for the recovery in a usable condition of one or more components of grinding swarf comprises grinding and screening the swarf where necessary, mixing and washing it first with a hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon combined with a surfactant and the removal of the bulk of the resulting solution is effected, following which the resulting swarf is then washed one or more times with a solvent for grease and oil with no added surfactant. Again the bulk of the resulting solution is first removed leaving a product moist with some remaining solution. This product is then heated in a closed environment to remove the residual solution by volatilization. Depending on the component in the original swarf which is to be recovered, magnetic separation of the steel from abrasive particles may be effected at some stage, and abrasive grains of different compositions can be separated. The used solvent without surfactant can be processed for reuse and the lubricant recovered.

Abstract: A method for magnetic separation of materials wherein the materials are ground to provide a mixture of fine particles of more- and less-magnetic materials which may include paramagnetic material and diamagnetic material. Discrete bodies of highly magnetizable material are introduced to a magnetic field of high intensity and thereby become a closely consolidated mass of bodies having interstitial pores extended through the mass in all directions. The mixed particles are caused to flow through the pores and the less-magnetic particles are separated from the more-magnetic particles and the mass of bodies in the magnetic field. The more-magnetic particles are separated from the bodies by moving the mass of bodies out of the magnetic field and by demagnetizing them so that they tumble freely and by washing or otherwise removing the particles from the bodies as they tumble after leaving the closely consolidated mass.

Abstract: A magnetic matrix separator for selectively separating diverse particles subjects the particles to the interaction of vibratory and magnetic forces induced conjointly by the application of an intensified intermittent or alternating magnetic flux to the matrix. Continuous, dual separating actions are obtained with a flexibly mounted circular matrix structure caused to rotate with respect to the pole faces of a pair of U-shaped electromagnets. Use of a systematic arrangement of uniformly shaped matrix components facilitate rapid processing of the particles for separation.

Abstract: A method for effecting magnetic separation of magnetically attractable particles dispersed in a fluid carrier, as for example weakly magnetic discoloring contaminants dispersed in a clay slurry. The dispersion is passed through a ferromagnetic filamentatious matrix within a canister disposed in a magnetic field. The matrix is part of a magnetic separator system characterized by a separation parameter p, where p is a function of the geometry and magnetic and electrical properties of the separating apparatus; and of the rheological and magnetic properties of the dispersion. By determinately setting the controllable parameters associated with the aforementioned properties which affect p, a desired attenuation in the population of contaminant species is achieved. Optimized apparatus configurations are also disclosed, which configurations are based upon the discovered relationships.

Abstract: A continuous flow magnetic particle separator and accompanying classification method is disclosed for ferromagnetic and paramagnetic particles. A magnetic field is generated, preferably by a coil or solenoid mounted interiorly of a cylindrically configured ferromagnetic conductor. The classification volume is located in a typically toroidal volume interior of the magnetic field. The field is typically confined by a ferromagnetic conductor where it passes externally of the classification or toroidal volume. The toroidal volume is positioned so that lines of magnetic intensity from the field extend transversely to toroidal volume at the flow from input to collectors. The classification volume has a large gap in the vicinity of the input and tapers to a smaller gap in the vicinity of the concentrate (or magnetic particle) and tailings (or non-magnetic particle) collectors. The concentrate collectors are immediately adjacent to both walls of the toroidal classification volume.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating ferrous particles from crushed siliceous slag and for providing successive size gradations of the siliceous material. Particles of the raw slag are introduced into a rotary receptacle including an upstanding side wall which defines a series of apertures having radially disposed axes. As the receptacle rotates, the particles are centrifugally projected into a magnetic field to separate the ferrous particles from the silica and to withdraw the ferrous particles onto a nonmagnetic belt-type carrier. The siliceous particles are projected by the receptacle over different distances proportional to their masses and are collected in successive cylindrical receiving bins concentric with the receptacle's axis of rotation. In some embodiments the separating operation takes place within an enclosure which is maintained at subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A radial magnetic field gradient applied from an elongated central source is traversed parallel to the elongation by a turbulent flow of a slurried mixture of magnetic and nonmagnetic components in the presence of a force thereon opposing in direction the attractive force of the magnetic field upon the magnetic components whereby the respective components are separated by the disparate forces and the flow acts to continuously advance the separation and direct separated components toward related collecting stations.

Abstract: A magnetic separator in which the substance to be treated is passed in a first direction through a body of foraminous, magnetically susceptible material of significant extent, while traversing in a second direction a magnetic field extending in a third direction, the directions being substantially orthogonal. Vibration is applied to the body, preferably axial and preferably linear. The field opposes the passage of magnetic particles through the body while the vibrator promotes the passage of non-magnetic particles, so that they emerge from the body at different locations for separate collection. The body is conveniently a hollow cylinder built up of sections of magnetic stainless steel screening folded and shaped, and the movement of the body is preferably rotation, the substance being applied to an outer cylindrical surface of the body and emerging from an inner, concentric cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A method for beneficiation of magnesite ore wherein the ore is subjected to calcination to decrease the bulk density of the magnesite relative to the gangue. Accordingly, after such calcination, conventional gravimetric separations can be conducted with greatly increased efficiency. When the calcination is conducted in a reducing atmosphere, initially non-magnetic gangue material is converted to a magnetic form and conventional magnetic separation procedures are conducted with enhanced efficiency.

Abstract: Purification of ilmenite from chromite impurities by a two step magnetic separation wherein magnetically susceptible chromite is magnetically removed, followed by an oxidizing roasting of the ilmenite and a subsequent magnetic separation of ilmenite from the remaining chromite impurities to obtain an ilmenite with 1% or less chromite.

Abstract: Particulate mixtures of non-magnetic or paramagnetic materials are separated by selectively coating the surfaces of a component or components of the mixture with a magnetic fluid. Thereafter, the particulate mixture is subjected to a magnetic separation yielding a magnetic fluid-coated fraction and a non-magnetic fraction. The process is especially useful in mineral beneficiation wherein a mineral concentrate is recovered from its ore.