Abstract: A wet process for the beneficiation of a fly ash by-product has the following steps: a) forming a slurry mixture of a fly ash material and a liquid; b) gravitationally separating and collecting a first material fraction of the fly ash having a density less than the liquid by skimming off floating slurry material; c) separating a first magnetic fraction from the slurry by subjecting the slurry to a magnetic field of from about 300 gauss to about 10 kilogauss; d) separating the unburned carbon from the remaining slurry components by adding an effective amount of an oil having a carbon chain greater than octane, and a frothing agent whereby the oil coats the unburned carbon forming hydrophobic carbon materials and inducing air into the system for frothing the slurry mixture wherein the hydrophobic unburned carbon froths to the surface and is removed by skimming off the frothing layer; and e) collecting the remaining fraction of silicate spheres and silicates.

Abstract: A froth flotation apparatus includes a gas bubble-particle contact unit including a mixing means for breaking a gas into fine bubbles, such as a packed tower packing or mechanical agitation means, and a separate phase separation unit. A conditioned aqueous pulp containing a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles and a substantially inert gas, such as air, are introduced into one end of the contact unit and flow concurrently through the mixing means, such that the gas is broken into fine bubbles which intimately contact and become attached to the hydrophobic particles. The resulting gas bubble-particle mixture is introduced into the phase separation unit which is operated under substantially quiescent conditions. A concentrate fraction containing primarily hydrophobic particles and a tailing containing primarily hydrophilic particles are discharged from the upper and lower portions of the phase separation unit, respectively.

Abstract: A wet process for the beneficiation of a fly ash by-product has the following steps: a) forming a slurry mixture of a fly ash material and a liquid; b) gravitationally separating and collecting a first material fraction of the fly ash having a density less than the liquid by skimming off floating slurry material; c) separating a first magnetic fraction from the slurry by subjecting the slurry to a magnetic field of from about 300 gauss to about 10 kilogauss; d) separating the unburned carbon from the remaining slurry components by adding an effective amount of an oil having a carbon chain greater than octane, and a frothing agent whereby the oil coats the unburned carbon forming hydrophobic carbon materials and inducing air into the system for frothing the slurry mixture wherein the hydrophobic unburned carbon froths to the surface and is removed by skimming off the frothing layer; and e) collecting the remaining fraction of silicate spheres and silicates.

Abstract: Particles of a magnetic material coated with a hydrophobic surfactant are dispersed in an organic solvent extractant to produce a magnetic solvent extractant which can be used in solvent extraction processes. Phase separation of an organic phase, carrying the component to be separated, from the aqueous phase can be accelerated by applying a magnetic field to the organic phase. After removal of the organic phase, a magnetic field can be applied to the aqueous phase to remove any residual organic phase and thereby enhance the degree of separation.

Abstract: Particles of a nonmagnetic material are rendered magnetic by contacting their surfaces with a magnetizing reagent comprising water containing particles of a magnetic material, each of which has a two layer surfactant coating including an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer covers the magnetic particle and is a monomolecular layer of a first water soluble, organic, heteropolar surfactant containing at least 3 carbon atoms and having a functional group on one end which bonds with the magnetic particle. The outer layer coats the inner layer and is a monomolecular layer of a second water soluble, organic heteropolar surfactant containing at least three carbon atoms and having a hydrophobic end bonded to the hydrophobic end of the first surfactant and a functional group on the other end capable of bonding with the particles to be magnetized.

Abstract: Particles of a nonmagnetic material are rendered magnetic by contacting their surfaces with a magnetizing reagent comprising water containing particles of a magnetic material, each of which has a two layer surfactant coating including an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer covers the magnetic particle and is a monomolecular layer of a first water soluble, organic, heteropolar surfactant containing at least 3 carbon atoms and having a functional group on one end which bonds with the magnetic particle. The outer layer coats the inner layer and is a monomolecular layer of a second water soluble, organic heteropolar surfactant containing at least three carbon atoms and having a hydrophobic end bonded to the hydrophobic end of the first surfactant and a functional group on the other end capable of bonding with the particles to be magnetized.

Abstract: A method of magnetically separating particles having different magnetic susceptibilities. A magnetic field is established in a colloidal suspension of magnetic particles which distribute to form a magnetic susceptibility gradient. The particles to be separated are introduced into the colloidal suspension. The introduced particles migrate along the magnetic susceptibility gradient to different regions having approximately the same magnetic susceptibilities as the introduced particles.