Abstract: A method of separating a shell from a seed may involve introducing a feed stream containing shells of a fruit intermixed with seeds of the fruit into a separation column at a feed stream location. The method may also involve introducing a first volume of a separation liquid into the separation column at a first liquid addition location located below the feed stream location and a second volume of the separation liquid into the separation column at a second liquid addition location located above feed stream location. The separation liquid may flow upwardly in the separation column at a rate effective to cause the seeds of the fruit to flow upwardly with the separation liquid toward a seed outlet of the separation column while the shells of the fruit flow downwardly against the upwardly flowing separation liquid toward a shell outlet of the separation column.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for sorting copper-bearing ore to select portions having a desired target copper content. The system includes a first magnetic resonance analyzer for measuring the copper content of ore input into the system and a controller that controls a diverter to divert portions of the input ore to a collection path when the copper content meets or exceeds a predetermined cut-off value. The system also includes a second magnetic resonance analyzer to measure the copper content of the ore in the collection path. The measurements are then fed back to the controller where the controller can adjust the predetermined cut-off value above, up or down, to optimize the yield of ore with the targeted copper content.

Abstract: An electrostatic modification reagent and a process for beneficiating a mineral substrate by electrostatic separation as described herein. The electrostatic modification reagent may be used in an electric separation process for separating components from a mineral ore or sand.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing particles having a reduced particle size distribution, which method comprises the steps of: a) providing a composition comprising particles; b) subjecting the particles in said composition to a size reduction step or to a size growth step; c) feeding said particles to a first membrane separation system to separate said particles according to size; d) recycling those particles that do not meet the size criteria back to step a); e) optionally, collecting in a collection tank the permeate of the first membrane separation system. Particles obtainable according to the method of the invention and characterized by having a near monodisperse particle size distribution are also provided. The particles are preferably characterized by having a particle size distribution with a span of less than 2.0. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising particles according to the invention, and also apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating two or more components of a plastic material for the purposes of recycling, with particular application to purifying poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) during recycling procedures. The process comprises contacting a quantity of the plastic material with one or more discrete pre-heated particles.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material, such as mined ore, is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of mined material to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and heating particles depending on the minerals present in the particles and then thermally analyzing particles exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate differences in the minerals in the particles. The method also comprises sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Abstract: A solvent that reversibly converts from a hydrophobic liquid form to hydrophilic liquid form upon contact with water and a selected trigger, e.g., contact with CO2, is described. The hydrophilic liquid form is readily converted back to the hydrophobic liquid form and water. The hydrophobic liquid is an amidine or amine. The hydrophilic liquid form comprises an amidinium salt or an ammonium salt.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention describe a high performance combinatorial method and apparatus for the combinatorial development of coatings by a dip-coating process. The dip-coating process may be used for multiple applications, including forming coatings from varied sol-gel formulations, coating substrates uniformly with particles to combinatorially test particle removal formulations, and the dipping of substrates into texturing formulations to combinatorially develop the texturing formulations.

Abstract: A magnetic reagent contains magnetic microparticles and a compound of the formula (I) as defined herein. The magnetic reagent may be used in a magnetic separation process for the removal of impurities from mineral substrates.

Abstract: A method of extracting targeted metallic minerals from ores that contain sulfide metallic minerals along with oxide minerals, carbonate minerals, silicate minerals, halide minerals or combinations thereof. In the method, an ore slurry containing the metallic mineral in oxide, carbonate, silicate or halide form is provided. The slurry is activated by adding sodium thiosulfate and sodium metabisulfite, whereby the targeted metallic mineral forms an intermediary metal complex with the sodium thiosulfate and sodium metabisulfite. One or more metal release components are introduced into the ore slurry; whereby the targeted metallic mineral is released from the intermediary metal complex to form a metal sponge. This metal sponge is then subjected to a flotation process, whereby the targeted metallic mineral is drawn out of the ore slurry and thereby extracted from the ore.

Abstract: A solvent that reversibly converts from a hydrophobic liquid form to hydrophilic liquid form upon contact with water and a selected trigger, e.g., contact with CO2, is described. The hydrophilic liquid form is readily converted back to the hydrophobic liquid form and water. The hydrophobic liquid is an amidine or amine. The hydrophilic liquid form comprises an amidinium salt or an ammonium salt.

Abstract: Use of a Maillard reaction product as an adjuvant in a variety of applications including solid-liquid separations, corrosion inhibition, emulsification, dust suppression, slow release fertilization, viscosity modification and others and especially as a depressant or collector in separation processes, including the selective separation of solids and/or ionic species from aqueous media, such as in the process of froth flotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting mined material, such as mined ore, includes an applicator for exposing fragments of a material to electromagnetic radiation and an assembly for distributing fragments from the applicator so that the fragments move downwardly and outwardly from an upper inlet of the assembly and are discharged from a lower outlet of the assembly as individual, separate fragments that are not in contact with each other. The apparatus also includes a detection and assessment system for detecting and assessing one or more than one characteristic of the fragments and a sorting means in the form of a separator for separating the fragments into multiple streams in response to the assessment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pipe separator (5) for electrostatically separating particles of a mixture of valuable materials, e.g., a mineral salt mixture, having different electrical charges, comprising a carrier pipe (10), wherein the carrier pipe has two field electrodes (8, 9) arranged opposite each other for generating an electric field, wherein the field electrodes (8, 9) are covered toward the inside by an insulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the separation of materials from heterogeneous fluids and provides a means of effecting stimulant-sensitive flocculation and consolidation of solid suspensions within a liquid medium. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of controlling the state of a suspension of solid particles in a liquid, including applying to the suspension a stimulus adapted to control inter-particle forces between the solid particles. The stimulus is reversibly operable to control attraction and/or repulsion. Means of consolidating a sediment bed and of separating the resultant liquids-rich and solids-rich phases are also within the ambit of the invention.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises allowing sufficient time for heat generated in the particles to be transferred through the particles so that the surface temperature of the particles is a measure of the mass average temperature through the particles. The method further comprises thermally analysing the particles to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate composition differences between the particles; and thereafter sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.

Abstract: A method of separating at least one carbon nanotube having a desired diameter and/or chirality from a mixture of carbon nanotubes having different diameters and/or chiralities is provided. A calixarene of formula (I): wherein n?4; X is PO3H2, Ra—PO3H, SO3H, or Ra—SO3H; Y is Rb, OH, or ORb; and Ra and Rb are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted arylene alkyl and optionally substituted alkylene aryl is combined with the mixture of carbon nanotubes in an aqueous solvent to produce an aqueous supernatant containing the carbon nanotube(s) having the desired diameter and/or chirality. The aqueous supernatant containing the carbon nanotube(s) is then separated from a residue comprising the remaining carbon nanotubes of the mixture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for collecting a particulate material from a mixture comprising treating the mixture with hydrophobic nanoparticles under conditions to adsorb the hydrophobic nanoparticles to the particulate material and collecting the particulate material by flotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flotation reagent for iron ores containing magnetite and/or haematite and to the use of a composition containing A) at least one amine alkoxylate ester of formula (I) or a salt thereof, wherein A and B, independently of one another, represent a C2-C5 alkylene radical, R1 is a C8 to C24 alkyl or alkenyl radical, R2, R3 and R4, independently of one another, are H or a C8 to C24 acyl radical, with the proviso that at least one of the radicals R2, R3 or R4 stands for a C8 to C24 acyl radical, x, y and z, independently of one other, are an integer of from 0 to 50, with the proviso that x+y+z is an integer of from 1 to 100, and B) a compound of formula D-NH2, in which D stands for a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms, which can contain either an oxygen atom or an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom, in amounts of 10 to 5.000 g/tonne as a collector in the reverse flotation of iron ore containing magnetite, haematite or both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating non-biogenic plastic from biogenic waste. A stream of waste materials is delivered through an inlet into a conduit in which the biogenic waste drops out the bottom. The non-biogenic plastic is drawn upwardly by a separator in the form of pressurized gas fed tangentially through two ports in an opposite direction with each other to create a vacuum in the conduit.

Abstract: A selective collection system for recyclable containers including a housing part, an input device, a material identification device, a sorting guide device, a shredding device, a compressing device, a collection part, and a control device.

Abstract: A method and device for reprocessing used plastic containers, especially PET bottles, by analyzing the degree of contamination of the plastic, determining the decontamination process parameters as a function of the degree of contamination found in the analyzing step, and conducting a controlled decontamination of the plastic according to the decontamination process parameters thus determined. With this method and this device, it is thus possible to perform the decontamination process step in a controlled manner, yielding a more economical reprocessing method.

Abstract: A method of separating material includes providing a mixture of a first material, such as a semiconductor, and a second material, such as an insulator or a different semiconductor. The mixture can be irradiated using a light source at a wavelength that causes the first material's conductivity to increase while leaving the second material's conductivity (substantially) unchanged. Placing the mixture in contact with a ground electrode discharges the first material but not the second material due the difference in their conductivities. Applying an electric field to the discharged mixture separates the discharged first material from the second material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for hydroponically growing microorganisms within a self-contained air-supported structure, in which microorganisms are grown in an organic slurry, harvested, and processed to obtain and process and distribute molecules useful for biofuel or other purposes.

Abstract: The separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), by electronic type using centrifugation of compositions of SWNTs and surface active block copolymers in density gradient media.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for recovering silicon from saw kerf, or an exhausted abrasive slurry, resulting from the cutting of a silicon ingot, such as a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon ingot. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods for isolating and purifying silicon from saw kerf or the exhausted slurry, such that the resulting silicon may be used as a raw material, such as a solar grade silicon raw material.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for recovering silicon from saw kerf, or an exhausted abrasive slurry, resulting from the cutting of a silicon ingot, such as a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon ingot. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods for isolating and purifying silicon from saw kerf or the exhausted slurry, such that the resulting silicon may be used as a raw material, such as a solar grade silicon raw material.

Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a color predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.

Abstract: Enhanced methods for separating of overlapping density porous materials are provided. The methods of the invention exploit the differences in the porosity of porous feed materials compared to that of the solid plastics. In the first stage, air is forced out of the pores of a porous feed material. In the second stage, a solution, having the appropriate density, is forced into the pores. This increases the density of the porous material relative to the density of the solid plastics. As a result, the porous material can be made to sink, while the solid plastics continue to float.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles from a medium includes a capillary defining a flow path therein that is in fluid communication with a medium source. The medium source includes engineered acoustic contrast capture particle having a predetermined acoustic contrast. The apparatus includes a vibration generator that is operable to produce at least one acoustic field within the flow path. The acoustic field produces a force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles and a force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles in the flow path and drives the engineered acoustic contrast capture particles to either the force potential minima for positive acoustic contrast particles or the force potential minima for negative acoustic contrast particles.

Abstract: A magnetic reagent contains magnetic microparticles and a compound of the formula (I) as defined herein. The magnetic reagent may be used in a magnetic separation process for the removal of impurities from mineral substrates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flotation process for removal of slimes from potash ores which includes a step in said process wherein a collector is used which is a mixture of ethoxylated fatty amines having the formulae (I) wherein R1 and R2 are, independently, a hydrocarbyl group having 1-22 C-atoms, and n is on average above 15 and less than 100, and (II) wherein R3 is a hydrocarbyl group having 8-22 carbon atoms; z is a number 1-3; X, Y and Y? are, independently, an alkyl group with 1-4 carbon atoms or the group -(EO)sH, wherein EO is an ethyleneoxy unit and s is on average 5-50, and the sum of all s is on average 15 or more, and less than 100; provided that at least one of X, Y and Y? is a group -(EO)sH; and where the molar ratio of I to II is 1:5 to 5:1. The invention also relates to said mixtures of collectors where the molar ratio of I to II is 1:5 to 5:1.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating the particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises thermally analysing the particles using the temperatures of the particles as a basis for the analysis to indicate composition differences between particles and then sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis. The method also comprises compensating for temperature variations in the mined material that is supplied to the method.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises allowing sufficient time for heat generated in the particles to be transferred through the particles so that the surface temperature of the particles is a measure of the mass average temperature through the particles. The method further comprises thermally analysing the particles to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate composition differences between the particles; and thereafter sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.

Abstract: A process for producing a mineral concentrate product that at is at least a substantially odour-free product comprises any one or more than one of (a) organics removal by (i) treatment of a froth product slurry containing floated mineral particles to remove organic compounds from the mineral particles and/or (ii) thermal treatment, and (b) addition of chemicals to prevent residual organic compounds on mineral concentrates being converted to odorous compounds, particularly while the concentrates are being stock-piled or transported.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrostatic separator for separating unburned carbon from coal ash using an electrostatic induction type ejector tribocharger, which can be operated based on difference in electrostatic polarity between the coal ash and the unburned carbon mixed with each other to thereby significantly improve charges and separation efficiency according to the amount of coal ash.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate and/or liquid droplet separation processes from liquids containing the same and the use of specific chemical additives to control surface wetting, hydrophobicity and surface forces in such processes.

Abstract: A method of separating, concentrating or purifying uniform carbon nanotubes with desired properties (diameter, chiral vector, etc) in a highly sensitive manner by the use of structure-sensitive properties peculiar to carbon nanotubes; and an apparatus therefor. There is provided a method of separating, concentrating, or purifying carbon nanotubes with the desired properties contained in a sample, comprising the steps of (a) irradiating a sample containing carbon nanotubes with light; and (b) selecting carbon nanotubes with desired properties. In a preferred embodiment, the light irradiation of the step (a) can be carried out in the presence of a metal so as to cause specified carbon nanotubes to selectively induce a photocatalytic reaction, resulting in metal deposition. Further, in a preferred embodiment, a given magnetic filed can be applied in the steps (b) so as to attain accumulation or concentration or carbon nanotubes with metal deposited.

Abstract: Systems and methods for hydroponically growing microorganisms within a self-contained air-supported structure, in which microorganisms are grown in an organic slurry, harvested, and processed to obtain and process and distribute molecules useful for biofuel or other purposes.

Abstract: A process for the beneficiation of trona includes supplying a trona feedstream that is crushed and dried. The trona is then separated into a first size fraction and a second size fraction. Impurities are removed from the first size fraction using at least one magnetic separator. The magnetic separator includes a plurality of stages. Each stage includes a conveyor system comprising a first end, a second end, and a conveyor belt. Each stage also includes a magnetic roller disposed at the second end of the conveyor system and a splitter disposed adjacent the second end of the system for separating a fraction of magnetic impurities from the trona to create a beneficiated fraction. At least one conveyor belt is deionized. Airborne dust particles are removed from an area surrounding at least one conveyor system.

Abstract: Process for separating at least one type of catalyst or adsorbent particles having similar colours characterized in that such particles undergo an oxidative heating treatment for generating particle of different colours, and then particles are separated using a colour sorting process for separating at least one type of particles.

Abstract: An optical illumination and monitoring subsystem controls the operation of a flow cytometer having a carrier fluid that flows along a channel coupled to a droplet generator, which controls a point at which droplets break off from the carrier fluid, and a droplet sorter that is operative to cause selected droplets to be sorted along one or more droplet travel paths. The subsystem is operative to illuminate a respective droplet monitoring location along each of one or more droplet travel paths with a respective beam of light, such as that sourced from a common laser. In response to backscatter reflection from a droplet passing through the respective beam of light at a respective droplet monitoring location, the amplitude of the beam of light is increased. Then the droplet is monitored for the presence of a particle therein exhibiting detectable fluorescence as a result of the increase in the amplitude of the respective beam of light.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing mixtures of material which contain a coarse component (3) and a predominantly cohesive fine component (4). Both the mixture of material (2) and an added material (5) are delivered in continuous streams of material (11, 23) to a homogenizing and separating device (12). The homogenizing and separating device (12) serves to mix the added material (5) and the mixture of material (2) uniformly with one another, so as to put the fine component (4) of the mixture of material (2) into a state such that the fine components (4) can be separated from the coarse component (3). As a result of the continuous delivery of the mixture of material (2) and added material (5) to the homogenizing and separating device (12), intimate mixing of the added material (5) and fine component (4) is achieved so that the separation of the coarse component and fine component can take place directly in the same device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for separating metal values, such as nickel and nickel compounds, from mineral ores, including lateritic ores are disclosed. The method includes providing a mixture of particles (e.g., crushed and sized ore) that is composed of at least a first group of particles and a second group of particles. Group members have similar chemical composition, while particles belonging to different groups have dissimilar chemical compositions. The mixture of particles is exposed to microwave/millimeter wave energy in order to differentially heat the first and second group of particles, thereby increasing differences in magnetic susceptibility between the first and second group of particles. The mixture of particles is then passed through a magnetic field gradient, which causes the particles to separate into magnetic and non-magnetic fractions.

Abstract: Method of separation that uses at least one organic chemical reaction to alter the molecular structure of a substance or substances (102) so that a mechanical method of separation can be used to cause the separation of one or more substances from one or a group of substances (104). The organic chemical reaction alters the molecular structure by adding at least one atom to the molecular structure or by subtracting at least one atom from the molecular structure. The mechanical method of separation uses the differing physical characteristics of substances to physically change the place or position of substances to remove or isolate the substances from a combination or a mixture absent any chemical reaction. The organic chemical reaction and the mechanical method of separation are used in combination to cause the separation of substances that otherwise could not be separated by the mechanical method of separation alone.

Abstract: The specification describes one or more embodiments of the present invention, which relates to a method of reducing phosphate ore losses in a desliming process. A phosphate ore preparation slurry is directed to a desliming unit; surfactants and/or an organic polymers are added to the slurry and mixed into the slurry to reduce the viscosity of the slurry and to settle out the fine phosphate ore particles for recovery. These particles are collected and directed to a beneficiation process for recovering the phosphate ore product. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).