Abstract: Disclosed is a method for acquiring and forming a spectrometry image, including the following steps: a) acquiring an initial structural image of an area of a sample; b) breaking down the initial structural image so as to determine a multi-scale spatial sample of the area of the sample; c) determining a plurality of spectrometry measurement positions in the area of the sample, as a function of the multi-scale spatial sampling determined in step b); d) consecutively, for each spectrometry measurement position determined in step c), positioning the excitation beam and acquiring a spectrometry measurement; and e) reconstructing a spectrometry image point-by-point from the spectrometry measurements acquired in step d).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for acquiring and forming a spectrometry image, including the following steps: a) acquiring an initial structural image of an area of a sample; b) breaking down the initial structural image so as to determine a multi-scale spatial sample of the area of the sample; c) determining a plurality of spectrometry measurement positions in the area of the sample, as a function of the multi-scale spatial sampling determined in step b); d) consecutively, for each spectrometry measurement position determined in step c), positioning the excitation beam and acquiring a spectrometry measurement; and e) reconstructing a spectrometry image point-by-point from the spectrometry measurements acquired in step d).

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitates from a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating diamond from gangue minerals. In particular, this method relates to the addition of a first reagent or reagents which contact the diamond in diamond ore slurry to at least partially remove hydrophilic coatings from the diamond surfaces. A second reagent or reagents may also be added to the slurry so that the reagent may adsorb on the diamond surfaces and thereby enhance the hydrophobicity of diamonds. The increase in hydrophobicity may improve the flotation of diamonds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating diamond from gangue minerals. In particular, this method relates to the addition of a first reagent or reagents which contact the diamond in diamond ore slurry to at least partially remove hydrophilic coatings from the diamond surfaces. A second reagent or reagents may also be added to the slurry so that the reagent may adsorb on the diamond surfaces and thereby enhance the hydrophobicity of diamonds. The increase in hydrophobicity may improve the flotation of diamonds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating diamond from gangue minerals. In particular, this method relates to the addition of a first reagent or reagents which contact the diamond in diamond ore slurry to at least partially remove hydrophilic coatings from the diamond surfaces. A second reagent or reagents may also be added to the slurry so that the reagent may adsorb on the diamond surfaces and thereby enhance the hydrophobicity of diamonds. The increase in hydrophobicity may improve the flotation of diamonds.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for separating materials are provided. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of separating a first material from a second material. For example, the method can comprise mixing the first material and the second material in a slurry with a beneficiation composition. The beneficiation composition can comprise one or more fatty acid by-products derived from a biodiesel manufacturing process or derived from transesterification reactions involving triglycerides. Air bubbles can be provided in the slurry to form bubble-particle aggregates with the first material and the bubble-particle aggregates can be separated from the second material.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for separating materials are provided. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of separating a first material from a second material. For example, the method can comprise mixing the first material and the second material in a slurry with a beneficiation composition. The beneficiation composition can comprise one or more fatty acid by-products derived from a biodiesel manufacturing process. Air bubbles can be provided in the slurry to form bubble-particle aggregates with the first material and the bubble-particle aggregates can be allowed to be separated from the second material.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for separating materials are provided. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of separating a first material from a second material. For example, the method can comprise mixing the first material and the second material in a slurry with a beneficiation composition. The beneficiation composition can comprise one or more fatty acid by-products derived from a biodiesel manufacturing process and one or more green collectors. Air bubbles can be provided in the slurry to form bubble-particle aggregates with the first material and the bubble-particle aggregates can be allowed to be separated from the second material.

Abstract: An improved method and composition for producing aluminum hydroxide crystals from precipitation liquor, involves the addition of an emulsified crystal growth modifier comprising a C8-C10 fatty acid, precursors, salts or blends thereof. The emulsified crystal growth modifier also facilitates an upward shift in particle size distribution of aluminum hydroxide and an upward shift in oxalate ball size.

Abstract: An improved method and composition for producing aluminum hydroxide crystals in a Bayer process pregnant liquor, involve the addition of an emulsified crystallization modifier comprising a C8-C10 fatty acid, precursors, salts or blends thereof. The alkyl chain of the fatty acid crystallization modifier is free of functional groups. The modifier yields a commercially viable product in the presence and absence of a hydrocarbon oil which dissolves the fatty acid. Further, the modifier, prepared in either an emulsified form or as a fatty acid neat, facilitates formation of oxalate aggregates greater than 200 ?m which may be readily screened out with minimum trihydrate loss.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating diamond from gangue minerals. In particular, this method relates to the addition of a first reagent or reagents which contact the diamond in diamond ore slurry to at least partially remove hydrophilic coatings from the diamond surfaces. A second reagent or reagents may also be added to the slurry so that the reagent may adsorb on the diamond surfaces and thereby enhance the hydrophobicity of diamonds. The increase in hydrophobicity may improve the flotation of diamonds.

Abstract: A method for characterizing or controlling the production of a thin-layered component using optical methods. Acquired signals S1 and S2 are processed in order to obtain parameters x, ? of the deposited layers. The stacking is represented by the product of two Abeles matrices for each direction of polarization s (perpendicular to the incidence plane) and p (parallel to the incidence plane): a known matrix Mos,p representing the support and matrix dMs,p representing a thin transparent layer being deposited.

Abstract: A method for characterizing or controlling the production of a thin-layered component using optical methods. Acquired signals S1 and S2 are processed in order to obtain parameters x, &egr; of the deposited layers. The stacking is represented by the product of two Abeles matrices for each direction of polarisation s (perpendicular to the incidence plane) and p (parallel to the incidence plane): a known matrix Mos,p representing the support and matrix dMs,p representing a thin transparent layer being deposited.

Abstract: A method measuring a rate of fouling caused by a heat flux through the surface subjected to electrochemical polarization. The method includes the steps of: providing a piezoelectric microbalance comprising a piezoelectric material with electrodes disposed thereon; exposing the working electrode of the microbalance to a flowing liquid, the liquid containing at least one fouling forming species; maintaining the liquid at a constant first temperature; maintaining the liquid at required hydrodynamic conditions; applying either a constant heat flux through the microbalance resulting in its working electrode having a variable second temperature or applying a variable heat flux through the microbalance resulting in its working electrode having a constant second temperature; and measuring a rate of fouling on the microbalance surface.