Abstract: A process of leaching a metal or salt thereof from a feed source includes combining an indifferent salt to a leach system to increase efficiency of the leach process as well as the subsequent leach residue liquid-solids separation. The process can include combining the feed source with a leaching reagent and an indifferent salt in a leach medium to form a feed slurry and leaching a metal or metal salt from the feed slurry in to a pregnant leach liquor followed by recovering metal salts from the pregnant leach liquor and recycling residual leach solution to form additional feed slurry. Such processes are suitable for large scale operations with high solids loading in the liquid-solids separation operations.

Abstract: Processes of thickening slurries such as from metal and non-metal based ore processes are disclosed. The processes include treating a feed slurry in a thickener apparatus with an indifferent salt in sufficient quantity to increase efficiency of solids-liquid separation as compared to a feed slurry in the thickener apparatus without the added indifferent salt.

Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.

Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.

Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.

Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.

Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.

Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.

Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.

Abstract: Dilution check valves, pumps, systems, and methods of use, useful for dilution of incoming feed into a feedwell or feed system that can be easily installed and removed on solid/liquid separation units. The feed dilution apparatuses or systems can be installed in a single location or in multiple locations around a feedwell, transferring supernatant drawn from single or multiple locations within a solid/liquid separation tank. Optionally, an in-line turbine style pump and/or downward draft configuration can be used to provide efficient pumping and accurate adjustment of volume by increasing or decreasing rotation speed. The feed dilution pumps can optionally be installed using a quick fit system that allows removal and replacement during operation without the need for mobile cranes or heavy lifting equipment.

Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.

Abstract: An inline mixer that can monitor and adjust its output torque and speed in real time to adjust mixing properties to suit changing fluids flowing therethrough. In one embodiment, structures can be constructed to provide different mixing characteristics via different shapes, configurations, and spacing, which can be formed therein and such structures can optionally be replaced to further customize mixing properties.

Abstract: A froth flotation method and apparatus for extracting a valuable substance from a slurry comprising a mixture of solid phase, liquid phase and said substance. A gas dispersing mechanism (4) feeds gas into the slurry (1) in a flotation vessel (2) to infuse gas bubbles into the slurry. The slurry is agitated in the flotation vessel (2) for dispersing the gas bubbles into the slurry. The gas bubbles capture the valuable substance from the slurry and form a froth phase F above the slurry phase S. The froth phase F exits the vessel by overflow. Continuously moving negative pressure zones (7) are mechanically generated by rake blades (9) in the froth phase (F). The negative pressure zones (7) extend from the froth phase (F) to the slurry phase (S).

Abstract: A froth flotation method and apparatus for extracting a valuable substance from a slurry comprising a mixture of solid phase, liquid phase and said substance. A gas dispersing mechanism (4) feeds gas into the slurry (1) in a flotation vessel (2) to infuse gas bubbles into the slurry. The slurry is agitated in the flotation vessel (2) for dispersing the gas bubbles into the slurry. The gas bubbles capture the valuable substance from the slurry and form a froth phase F above the slurry phase S. The froth phase F exits the vessel by overflow. Continuously moving negative pressure zones (7) are mechanically generated by rake blades (9) in the froth phase (F). The negative pressure zones (7) extend from the froth phase (F) to the slurry phase (S).

Abstract: The Invention relates to a flotation machine (1) which at least consists of a flotation cell (2) having a means for feeding slurry in the flotation cell, a gas dispersion mechanism (3) for feeding gas into the slurry and producing froth, a means for removing froth from the flotation cell and a means for removing tailings from the flotation cell, when there is arranged at least one guiding device (4) near the gas dispersion mechanism (3) in order to guide the dispersed gas (5) away from the gas dispersion mechanism (3).

Abstract: Invention relates to a flotation machine which at least contains a flotation cell (2) having a means for feeding slurry in the floatation cell, a means for feeding gas into the slurry and producing aerated slurry (4) and froth (3), a means for removing froth from the flotation cell and a means for removing tailings from the flotation cell, when the flotation cell (2) is provided with at least one separation device (5), which is arranged to float at the interface (6) between phases having different densities, such as froth (3) and aerated slurry (4), in order to improve the removal of froth phase from the flotation cell.

Abstract: The Invention relates to a flotation machine (1) which at least consists of a flotation cell (2) having a means for feeding slurry in the flotation cell, a gas dispersion mechanism (3) for feeding gas into the slurry and producing froth, a means for removing froth from the flotation cell and a means for removing tailings from the flotation cell, when there is arranged at least one guiding device (4) near the gas dispersion mechanism (3) in order to guide the dispersed gas (5) away from the gas dispersion mechanism (3).

Abstract: Invention relates to a flotation machine which at least contains a flotation cell (2) having a means for feeding slurry in the flotation cell, a means for feeding gas into the slurry and producing aerated slurry (4) and froth (3), a means for removing froth from the flotation cell and a means for removing tailings from the flotation cell, when the flotation cell (2) is provided with at least one separation device (5), which is arranged to float at the interface (6) between phases having different densities, such as froth (3) and aerated slurry (4), in order to improve the removal of froth phase from the flotation cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flotation machine (1) which at least contains a flotation cell (2) having a means for feeding slurry in the flotation cell, gas dispersion mechanism (6) for feeding gas into the slurry and producing froth and aerated slurry (3), a means for removing froth (4) from the flotation cell and a means for removing tailings from the flotation cell, wherein there is arranged at least one separation element (7) in order to separate the upward going flow (8) and the returning flow (9) from each other in the cell (2).