Abstract: Method of treating a clay to remove therefrom titanium mineral impurities comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous clay with a collector for the titanium mineral impurities, a reducing agent, and, if needed, an activator preferably comprising a water-soluble ferrous salt; conditioning the resulting mixture of aqueous clay slurry, collector, reducing agent and activator to dissipate therein at least 25 horsepower hours of energy per ton of solids; subjecting the conditioned mixture to froth flotation and removing titanium impurities with the froth; and recovering clay having a reduced titanium minerals impurities content. The method includes the case where the activator is a ferrous salt formed in situ from iron impurities in the clay formed by adding said reducing agent in place of some or all of added activator.

Abstract: A method of treating a clay to remove therefrom titanium mineral impurities comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous slurry of said clay having a high solids content with an activator and a collector for the titanium mineral impurities; conditioning the aqueous clay slurry at said high solids content for a time sufficient to dissipate therein at least 25 horsepower hours of energy per ton of solids; adding to the conditioned aqueous clay slurry a polyacrylate salt deflocculant; subjecting the conditioned aqueous clay slurry undiluted containing the polyacrylate salt deflocculant to a froth flotation process and removing the titanium impurities with the froth; and recovering clay having a reduced titanium minerals impurities content.

Abstract: A high intensity conditioning mill for conditioning aqueous pulp containing particles of clay and mineral impurities preparatory to subjecting the pulp to froth flotation comprising a conditioning vessel for containing the body of aqueous pulp, a plurality of generally horizontal baffles mounted within said vessel and dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of chambers, each baffle being formed with a central, circular hole, inlet means for feeding aqueous pulp to the lowermost chamber, outlet means for removing conditioned aqueous pulp from the space above the uppermost baffle, a rotatable, generally vertical drive shaft centrally positioned to rotate in said vessel and extending generally concentrically through each hole in each baffle and a plurality of impellers mounted on said shaft and generally positioned within a hole of the horizontal baffle, the impellers being of a size relative to said holes sufficient to provide passageways for the aqueous pulp from each chamber to each adjacent chamber wh

Abstract: A non-diluting flotation apparatus and process is disclosed which includes a single cell, or a series of multiple cells. Each cell comprises a non-agitated, flotation vessel having a submerged inlet in its upper portion for feeding a previously treated or conditioned clay or ore suspension in water. The suspension flows downward in the vessel to an outlet from which a combined product and recycle stream is taken. Thereafter, a recycle stream is separated and air bubbles are entrained into the recycle stream which is returned to the lower portion of the cell. In the cell the entrained air rises as very small bubbles, flushing certain mineral impurities removed from the clay with the air. The air and impurities form a froth atop the liquid surface and the froth is mechanically removed.