Abstract: Provided is a surface modification method of calcite powder prepared from desulfurized gypsum and heat-treated at a high temperature. According to the surface modification method, hydrophilic calcite powder having polarity may be changed into hydrophobic non-polar calcite powder by safely adsorbing a surface modifier onto a surface of the calcite powder and coating the surface with non-polar fatty acid. Particularly, in the case in which calcite powder heat-treated at a high temperature is hydrophobized, a significantly excellent hydrophobic surface property may be implemented.

Abstract: An electrostatic modification reagent 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: Methods for generating aldehyde-containing compounds in organic seed oils utilizing ozone and direct current without the use of added electrolytes and reducing compounds are disclosed, as are compositions generated by such methods. The reactions can be performed efficiently at ambient temperatures and pressures. These compositions have particular utility as additives to fuels and lubricating oils derived from petrochemical sources.

Abstract: 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 magnetic particles, which comprises the following steps (A) at least partial removal of the magnetic particles by application of a magnetic field gradient, optionally in the presence of at least one dispersing medium, to give a mixture comprising at least one first material and at least one second material and a reduced amount of magnetic particles, (B) contacting of the mixture comprising at least one first material and at least one second material from step (A) with magnetic particles so that the at least one first material and the magnetic particles agglomerate, (C) separation of the agglomeration product from the mixture from step (B) by application of a magnetic field gradient and (D) dissociation of the agglomeration product separated off in step (C) in order to obtain the at least one first material and the magnetic particles

Abstract: 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) contacting of the mixture comprising at least one first material, at least one second material and at least one third material with at least one hydrocarbon in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.

Abstract: Amine-aldehyde resins are disclosed for removing a wide variety of solids and/or ionic species from the liquids in which they are suspended and/or dissolved. These resins are especially useful as froth flotation depressants, for example in the beneficiation of value materials (e.g., bitumen, coal, or kaolin clay) to remove impurities such as sand. The resins are also useful for treating aqueous liquid suspensions to remove solid particulates, as well as for removing metallic ions in the purification of water.

Abstract: A method for magnetic ore separation and/or dressing is provided, in which metalliferous recoverable materials are separated from conveyed metalliferous ore rock.

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: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material, which comprises the following steps (A) contacting of the mixture comprising at least one first material and at least one second material with at least one magnetic particle in the presence of at least one dispersion medium so that the at least one first material and the at least one magnetic particle agglomerate, (B) if appropriate, addition of further dispersion medium to the dispersion obtained in step (A), (C) separation of the agglomerate from step (A) or (B) from the mixture by application of a magnetic field, (D) and dissociation of the agglomerate separated off in step (C) in order to obtain the at least one first material and the at least one magnetic particle separately, with an energy input of at least 10 kW/m3 being introduced into the dispersion in step (A).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material using magnetic particles with which the at least one first material agglomerates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material, which comprises the following steps: (A) contacting of the mixture comprising the at least one first material and at least one second material with at least one selective hydrophobicizing agent in the presence of a suspension medium so that an adduct is formed from the at least one hydrophobicizing agent and the at least one first material but not with the at least one second material, (B) contacting of the adduct from step (A) with at least one magnetic particle which is functionalized on the surface with at least one polymeric compound having a transition temperature LCST (lower critical solution temperature) at a temperature at which the polymeric compound has hydrophobic character so that the adduct from step (A) and the at least one functionalized magnetic particle agglomerate, (C) if appropriate addition of further suspensio

Abstract: A process for separating at least one hydrophobic material from a mixture comprising this at least one hydrophobic material and at least one hydrophilic material, which comprises the steps: (A) preparation of a slurry or dispersion of the mixture to be treated in at least one suitable dispersion medium, (B) contacting of the slurry or dispersion from step (A) with at least one solid, hydrophobic surface to bind the at least one hydrophobic material to be separated off to this, (C) removal of the at least one solid, hydrophobic surface to which the at least one hydrophobic material is bound from step (B) from the slurry or dispersion in which the at least one hydrophilic material is comprised and (D) separation of the at least one hydrophobic material from the solid, hydrophobic surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agglomerate of at least one particle P which is hydrophobicized on the surface with at least one first surface-active substance and at least one magnetic particle MP which is hydrophobicized on the surface with at least one second surface-active substance, a process for producing it and also the use of these agglomerates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material in an amount of from 0.001 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of the invention for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material, which comprises the steps: (A) Contacting of at least one magnetic particle and at least one bifunctional molecule or an adduct of the two with the mixture comprising the at least one first material and at least one second material so that an adduct is formed from the at least one magnetic particle, the bifunctional compound of the general formula (I) and the at least one first material, (B) suspension of the adduct obtained in step (A) in a suitable suspension medium, (C) separation of the adduct present in the suspension from step (B) from the suspension by application of a magnetic field, (D) if appropriate, dissociation of the adduct separated off in step (C) in order to obtain the at least one first material. a corresponding adduct and the use of such an adduct for the separation of mixtures of materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material, which comprises at least the following steps: (A) contacting of the mixture comprising at least one first material and at least one second material with at least one surface-active substance, if appropriate in the presence of at least one dispersion medium, with the surface-active substance binding to the at least one first material, (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 to which the at least one surface-active substance is bound and the at least one magnetic particle agglomerate, (D) separation of the agglomerate from step (C) from the mixture by application of a magnetic field in order to obtain th

Abstract: To provide a cell sorting method and a cell sorter which are capable of performing sorting focusing on various changes in each cell as stress on living cells is kept as low as possible, and proliferating the sorted cells. The present invention performs cell sorting using a fiber unit in which a plurality of fibers is bundled so as to be separable and unitable. In the present invention, a cell group containing target cells targeted for sorting is dispersed in a fluid into which the fiber unit is immersed, target fibers to which the target cells are attached among the plurality of fibers, are separated from the fiber unit, and the target cells are proliferated by use of the separated target fibers.

Abstract: A method for managing drip infusion stands aims to set different colors for drip infusion stands according to requirements of varying departments in a hospital. The drip infusion stand is made of aluminum alloy and includes a telescopic upright post with the surface treated by an anodizing process to form a selected color to match the department. Thus the mixed drip infusion stands can be easily distinguished and sorted out by management staffs according to the colors to return to the departments they belong. Time for returning the drip infusion stands to the varying departments is shortened and management of the drip infusion stands is more efficient. The problem of shortage of drip infusion stands in certain departments or floors in the hospital also can be averted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for non-destructively sampling individual seeds in a population of seeds. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an efficient, high throughput method for removing contaminating tissue from the other seed material. The methods of the invention are useful for determining the genotype of a seed and the detection of a genetic marker or genetic trait. The methods of the invention comprise removing maternal tissue, such as seed coat or pericarp from the seed, and analyzing the remainder of the seed. The methods of the invention reduce the degree of ambiguity in the genetic tests because complicating maternal tissue has been removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material, which comprises the steps: (A) production of a suspension of the mixture comprising at least one first material and at least one second material and at least one magnetic particle in a suitable suspension medium, (B) setting of the pH of the suspension obtained in step (A) to a value at which the at least one first material and the at least one magnetic particle bear opposite surface charges so that these agglomerate, (C) separation of the agglomerate obtained in step (B) from the suspension by application of a magnetic field and (D) dissociation of the agglomerate separated off in step (C) by setting of the pH to a value at which the at least one first material and the at least one magnetic particle bear the same surface charges in order to obtain the at least one first material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material, which comprises the following steps: (A) contacting of the mixture comprising at least one first material and at least one second material with at least one surface-active substance, if appropriate in the presence of at least one dispersant, resulting in the surface-active substance becoming attached to the at least one first material, (B) if appropriate, addition of at least one dispersant to the mixture obtained in step (A) to give a dispersion having a suitable concentration, (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 to which the at least one surface-active substance is bound and the at least one magnetic particle become attached to one another, (D) separation of the addition product from step (C) from the mixture by application of

Abstract: Amine-aldehyde resins are disclosed for removing a wide variety of solids and/or ionic species from the liquids in which they are suspended and/or dissolved. These resins are especially useful as froth flotation depressants, for example in the beneficiation of value materials (e.g., bitumen, coal, or kaolin clay) to remove impurities such as sand. The resins are also useful for treating aqueous liquid suspensions to remove solid particulates, as well as for removing metallic ions in the purification of water.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to cutting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). In one embodiment, the present invention provides for preparations of homogeneous populations of short carbon nanotube molecules by cutting and annealing (reclosing) the nanotube pieces followed by fractionation. The cutting and annealing processes may be carried out on a purified nanotube bucky paper, on felts prior to purification of nanotubes or on any material that contains single-wall nanotubes. In one embodiment, oxidative etching with concentrated nitric acid is employed to cut SWNTs into shorter lengths. The annealed nanotubes may be disbursed in an aqueous detergent solution or an organic solvent for the fractionation. Closed tubes can also be derivatized to facilitate fractionation, for example, by adding solubilizing moieties to the end caps.

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).

Abstract: A process for extracting and purifying naturally occurring zeolite from ores in the presence of other mineral phases by using mechanical dispersion and differential suspension to remove a majority of the clay content of the ore. The process continues by removal of contaminants with a higher mass to surface area ratio than that of the desired zeolite product by employing the properties of demineralized water in combination with a countercurrent flow separation column. No chemical flocculating or flotation agents are employed in the process. The process separates the particulate compound by using the separation effect of an electrical double layer which forms when the mixture is hydrated in a low electrolyte medium.

Abstract: The present invention is to an improved method of constructing a coal processing plant and an improved arrangement therefore. The overall cost of constructing a coal processing plant can be significantly reduced by the arrangement of the processing to terminate in an underground sump. By providing a subfloor to the plant with subterranean sumps, the overall height necessary to house a plant can be reduced significantly.

Abstract: Application of surface marking to metal stock, such as aluminum sheet, prior to or during scrap-generating manufacturing operations, to provide a detectable mark on pieces of manufacturing scrap derived from the marked sheet and commingled with scrap of other aluminum alloy sheet, so that the scrap can be sorted and the marked alloy scrap pieces separated from scrap of other alloy sheet to which the marking was not applied. Different markings, providing detectably different marks, may be respectively applied to sheet of different compositions if scrap pieces of more than two different compositions or compositional families are to be sorted and separated from each other.

Abstract: In order to recover the various components of multiple layer materials, a method uses a refiner or disperser including mutually opposing rotating discs having material engaging surfaces or elements such as teeth. The method includes: adjusting a gap between the discs so that a material is subjected to a shear force that mutually separates its material layers in the form of pieces or fragments in the absence of any substantial disintegration of the layers; pumping the separated pieces of the various layers together with a supplied suspension liquid to a separator; and, separating readily pulped or slushed pieces of the material suspended in the suspension liquid from pieces of the suspended material that are not readily pulped or slushed. The pumping of the separated pieces and suspension liquid to the separator can be via a collection vessel.

Abstract: There is described a process for cleansing contaminants, such as oil, PCB, PAH, heavy metals and the like, from a heterogeneous material, such as sand, gravel, earth, oil gravel, asphalt, drill borings ("kaks") and the like. More specifically the invention relates to a process comprising the steps: i) that a sorption agent is added to the material, and that the material and the sorption agent are mixed/kneade sufficiently for a considerable portion of the contamination to be extracted from the material and absorbed by the sorption agent, and that ii) thereafter the sorption agent is separated from the material on the basis of specific gravity/particle size by means of an applied flow of gas, so that the sorption agent is led with the flow and can be collected in a separate fraction.

Abstract: The carbon and mineral components of fly ash are effectively separated by a continuous air agglomeration method, resulting in a substantially carboree mineral stream and a highly concentrated carbon product. The method involves mixing the fly ash comprised of carbon and inorganic mineral matter with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a slurry, contacting the slurry with an aqueous solution, dispersing the hydrocarbon slurry into small droplets within the aqueous solution by mechanical mixing and/or aeration, concentrating the inorganic mineral matter in the aqueous solution, agglomerating the carbon and hydrocarbon in the form of droplets, collecting the droplets, separating the hydrocarbon from the concentrated carbon product, and recycling the hydrocarbon.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for separating acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) plastics from each other. The ABS and HIPS plastics are shredded to provide a selected particle size. The shredded particles of the ABS and HIPS plastics are applied to a solution having a solution density in a predefined range between 1.055 gm/cm.sup.3 and 1.07 gm/cm.sup.3, a predefined surface tension in a range between 22 dynes/cm to 40 dynes/cm and a pH in the range of 1.77 and 2.05. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the novel method is provided for separating ABS and HIPS, two solid thermoplastics which have similar densities by selectively modifying the effective density of the HIPS using a binary solution with the appropriate properties, such as pH, density and surface tension, such as a solution of acetic acid and water or a quaternary solution having the appropriate density, surface tension, and pH.

Abstract: A method for separating plastic particles by types from a particle mixture of plastics of different types by flotation. The plastic particles are initially processed by a type-dependent change in their wetting behavior in such a manner that the various types can be floated individually out of the particle mixture. This surface treatment of the plastic particles takes place prior to flotation and outside of the flotation device in a physically dry manner by plasma processing of the particle mixture followed by storage for a predetermined time period. Storage results in a material-specific classification wetting behavior.

Abstract: The bale opening machine is provided with a detection unit upstream of the bale opener for detecting the presence of foreign material at the surface of the fiber bale. In addition, an extraction unit is mounted adjacent the bale opener for removing the detected foreign material from a fiber bale. The extraction unit may include pairs of gripping jaws so as to mechanically remove the fiber material or may be constructed as a suction tube or tubes to pneumatically remove the foreign material. The detection and extraction unit may be mounted on a common side or on opposite sides of the bale opener.

Abstract: Separation of a mixture of plastic materials by separating the plastic mixture according to particle size, and introducing plastic of similar size particles into a vertical fluidized bed column having an upwardly flowing gaseous stream therein. The flow rate of the gaseous stream is controlled to provide a relatively low density fraction of the plastic mixture exiting at the upper end of the column, and a relatively high density fraction of the plastic mixture exiting at the lower end of the column. In one embodiment, electrostatic charges are induced on the particles of the plastic mixture prior to introducing the plastic of similar size particles into the column, and the column is charged to attract thereto the plastic particles having the highest electrostatic charge.

Abstract: Separation of impurities from kaolin clay is accomplished by conditioning a dispersed aqueous pulp of the clay with an anionic flotation collector, followed by centrifugation or the like to cause the impurities to settle from a dispersed pulp of the clay without an intermediate froth flotation step or a flotation waste froth is centrifuged or hydrocloned to recover valuable kaolin contained in the froth.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved catalytic process for carrying out heavy hydrocarbon conversion, usually, but not necessarily, in the presence of nickel and vanadium on the catalyst and in the feedstock, by catalytic cracking gas oils and heavy carbometallic oils to lighter molecular weight fractions. The process is facilitated by the continuous addition of one or more heavy rare earth additives, including gadolinum, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, and thulium, all having exceptionally high paramagnetic properties, which as they accumulate on aged catalyst, are used to achieve enhanced magnetic separation of aged catalyst. These additives are unusual in that they not only act dramatically as magnetic hooks to assist in removing old, nickel and vanadium poisoned catalyst, but also act to achieve increased activity and improve selectivity of the remaining catalyst, and of equal importance, tend to resist catalyst deactivation.

Abstract: Separation of impurities from kaolin clay is accomplished by conditioning a dispersed aqueous pulp of the clay with an anionic flotation collector, followed by centrifugation or hydrocloning to cause the impurities to settle from a dispersed pulp of the clay without an intermediate froth flotation step or a flotation waste froth is centrifuged or hydrocloned to recover valuable kaolin contained in the froth.

Abstract: The separation of silica or siliceous gangue from one or more desired minerals in an aqueous slurry via mechanical apparatus is improved by the addition of a small amount of an alkanol amine to the slurry. Examples of separation techniques benefiting from this technology include cyclones, tables and spiral separators.

Abstract: A process of selectively agglomerating coal in an aqueous environment while leaving the mineral matter dispersed has been developed. This process is autogenous for hydrophobic particles in that neither an agglomerating agent nor an electrolytic coagulant is needed. It is based on the finding that hydrophobic particles are pushed against each other by the surrounding water structure. This process, which is referred to as selective hydrophobic coagulation, is driven by the so-called hydrophobic interaction energy, which is not included in the classical DLVO theory describing the stability of lyophobic suspensions. The relatively small coagula formed by the selective hydrophobic coagulation process can be readily separated from the dispersed mineral matter by several different techniques such as screening, elutriation, sedimentation and froth flotation.

Abstract: The use of electrostatic demulsification methods to separate fine particulates of differing surface characteristics is disclosed. In one example, particles of hydrophobic coal and hydrophilic kaolin clay, each of nominal 3.5 micron mass mean particle diameter, were separated from a variety of stable water-in-oil emulsions. 50/50 blends of coal of 4% ash and kaolin clay of 86.5% ash were used in the experiments. A variety of oils, water concentrations, solids concentrations, and emulsifiers have been used in this work. Externally applied electrostatic fields up to 1.2 kV/cm were used. Greater than 90% rejection of kaolin particles into the separated water phase was achieved with virtually complete recovery of the coal particles uniformly suspended in the oil phase.

Abstract: Sheets or a web of bank note imprints are advanced in single file through an indexing station where a unique identifying index is applied to each imprint. The indexed imprints are stacked as a pile of strips, downstream of the indexing station, and the pile of strips cut into piles of individual indexed bank notes.Strips containing imprints with printing blemishes or incorrect indexes are rejected before reaching the stacking station. Computer-control of the indexing units in the indexing station maintains an unbroken sequence of indexes on the imprints advanced to the stacking station despite the presence of reject strips.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of milled crude potash salts containing kieserite, whereby the crude potash salt is conditioned at first with a chemical conditioning agent and subsequently with an auxiliary conditioning agent, whereupon the crude potash salt is fed to an electrostatic free fall separator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating an oil phase from an aqueous phase by means of a rotating drum apparatus containing one or more compartments, each being partially filled with oleophilic free bodies. When containing two or more compartments, they are separated by an apertured baffle. The interior surfaces of the drum are oleophilic and the portion of the drum sidewall, where the mixture is removed is apertured. Due to the oleophilic free bodies and interior oleophilic surfaces, the aqueous phase velocity through the drum is faster than the oil phase which adheres to the oleophilic surfaces causing an in situ buildup and agglomeration of oil phase in the drum. The mixture exiting the apertured drum sidewall is partitioned by the tumbling free bodies, oleophilic drum surfaces and drum rotation such that aqueous phase leaves the drum between the 6 and 9 o'clock positions of counter clockwise rotation where free body concentration is minimal.

Abstract: Method of automatically separating and cleaning silicon carbide furnace materials using magnetic separation techniques. In the method of the invention, crushed or particulate silicon carbide furnace materials are mixed with a magnetic powder. The lower grade silicon carbide particles are then separated from the first grade silicon carbide crystals using magnetic separation means. Recoveries of at least 75% of the first grade silicon carbide are possible using the method of the invention. This method is also useful for the beneficiation of ores, minerals, or man-made materials.

Abstract: Processing is based on print carriers in the form of security paper webs or security paper sheets, containing security paper prints which are arranged in the manner of matrices in transverse rows and longitudinal rows and on which spoilt notes are identified by a mark which can be read by a reading instrument. The print carriers pass, in succession, by a reading instrument which detects the positions of the spoilt notes and feeds them into a computer for storage, a cancellation printer controlled by this computer, which provides spoilt notes with a cancellation print, and a numbering machine. The numbering mechanisms of this numbering machine are moved forward by the computer in such a way that always the satisfactory security paper prints, placed in succession in any longitudinal row, are serially numbered, the spoilt notes being neglected.

Abstract: A method for mineral upgrading or concentration, characterized in that a gangue-associated mineral having a hydrophobic surface and being in particulate form, is contacted with particles of a magnetic material also having a hydrophobic surface, whereby the mineral particles become attached to the surface of the magnetic particles, the magnetic particles with the attached mineral particles are separated from the gangue by magnetic means, and the mineral particles are then detached from the magnetic particles.

Abstract: A flotation process is taught for beneficiating phosphate ores containing, as impurities, silica and alkaline earth metal carbonates, particularly dolomite. Using a single flotation stage, the phosphate values are recovered in the overflow and quite unexpectedly both the siliceous and the carbonate gangue minerals are simultaneously removed in the underflow. Prior to flotation, surfaces of the minerals in the phosphate ore are selectively sulfidized with an insoluble copper-containing metal sulfide, permitting use of sulfide mineral collecting reagents such as alkyl xanthates in the flotation step to achieve a high degree of selectivity.

Abstract: A flotation process is taught for beneficiating phosphate ores containing, as impurities, silica and alkaline earth metal carbonates, particularly dolomite. Using a single flotation stage, the phosphate values are recovered in the overflow and quite unexpectedly both the siliceous and the carbonate gangue minerals are simultaneously removed in the underflow. Prior to flotation, surfaces of the minerals in the phosphate ore are selectively sulfidized with an insoluble copper-containing metal sulfide, permitting use of sulfide mineral collecting reagents such as alkyl xanthates in the flotation step to achieve a high degree of selectivity.

Abstract: Gold ore, or any other mineral treated to have a lyophilic surface, (e.g. chalcopyrites), is ground into a slurry in crusher (1) powdered coal and oil are added at location (2), and the mix is conveyed to a contact zone (3), where any micro-agglomerates formed are kept below 500 microns in size. Sequentially, the mix is passed to an agglomeration zone (4), where larger agglomerates of coal-oil and gold or the lyophilic mineral are allowed to form, then separated at (5) from the gangue (8), and recycle continuously via return line (6) and homogenister (7) to the contact zone (3), until a desired gold or mineral concentration in the agglomerates is achieved. Subsequently, the `loaded` coal-oil agglomerates are tapped off the return line (6) at (9), either batchwise or continuously, and the metal values are recovered by pyrometallurgical or concentional separation techniques.