Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal leach and recovery process. The process involves subjecting a metal bearing material to a reactive process by combining said metal bearing material with a leaching agent to liberate at least one metal value and forming a first aqueous leach pulp. This first aqueous leach pulp is subjected to a solid liquid separation step thereby providing a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp. The first clarified aqueous leach solution is then subjected to solvent extraction thereby obtaining the first aqueous raffinate. The second aqueous leach pulp is subjected to at least two further solid liquid separation steps of which some or all are in a counter current decantation (CCD) arrangement.

Abstract: A process of concentrating an aqueous suspension of solid particles, comprising the steps of introducing the aqueous suspension of solid particles into a vessel, addition of at least one organic polymeric flocculant to the aqueous suspension of solid particles thereby forming flocculated solids, allowing the flocculated solids to settle to form a compression zone, comprising a bed of sedimented solids in suspension at the lower end of the vessel, flowing the sedimented solids from the vessel as an underflow stream, in which an effective amount of ultrasonic energy is applied to: a) the bed of solids at the compression zone; b) the sedimented solids in the underflow stream; or c) a recycle stream containing sedimented solids taken from either the underflow stream or the compression zone which are then recycled back to the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal leach and recovery process. The process involves subjecting a metal bearing material to a reactive process by combining said metal bearing material with a leaching agent to liberate at least one metal value and forming a first aqueous leach pulp. This first aqueous leach pulp is subjected to a solid liquid separation step thereby providing a first clarified aqueous leach solution and a second aqueous leach pulp. The first clarified aqueous leach solution is then subjected to solvent extraction thereby obtaining the first aqueous raffmate. The second aqueous leach pulp is subjected to at least two further solid liquid separation steps of which some or all are in a counter current decantation (CCD) arrangement.

Abstract: A process of concentrating an aqueous suspension of solid particles, whereby an aqueous suspension of solid particles is introduced into a vessel, an organic polymeric flocculant is added to the aqueous suspension of solid particles thereby forming flocculated solids, the flocculated solids are allowed to settle to form a bed of solids in suspension at the lower end of the vessel, and the bed of solids are flowed from the vessel as an underflow, in which a portion of the bed of solids or underflow is transferred as a recycle stream to the vessel into or above the bed of solids. Furthermore, an active agent is added to the solids in the recycle stream. The active agent is selected from free radical agents, oxidising agents and reducing agents.

Abstract: A process of concentrating a suspension of solid particles in an aqueous medium comprising introducing into the suspension at least one organic polymeric flocculant and addition of an agent system, in which the solid particles in the suspension are flocculated by the action of the at least one organic polymeric flocculant and the so formed flocculated solid particles settle to form a settled layer of solids suspended in the aqueous medium, wherein the agent system comprises: i) at least one oxidising agent; ii) at least one control agent,

Abstract: A method and system for setting the optimal price for a hotel property are described. The method includes the steps of receiving electronic data having marketing information, including, for example, the customers won and lost by competitors. One or more price sensitivity coefficients are calculated based on the market data. The price sensitivity coefficients are used to calculate a predicted share value representing the probability that a next customer will book a property at the subject hotel at a particular price. The price sensitivity coefficients are also used to calculate a price elasticity value representing the responsiveness of demand for the hotel property to a change in the price of that property. The price of the hotel property is set at a point where the price elasticity value is substantially equal to ?1.0.

Abstract: A process of concentrating an aqueous suspension of solid particles comprising the steps of adding at least one organic polymeric flocculant to the suspension thereby forming flocculated solids in which the flocculated solids are allowed form a layer of solids and thereby forming a more concentrated suspension in which the process comprises the addition of an effective amount of an agent that is selected from the group consisting of free radical agents, oxidizing agents, enzymes and radiation, in which the agent is applied to the suspension prior to or substantially simultaneously with adding the organic polymeric flocculant and/or the organic polymeric flocculant is added to the suspension in a vessel and the agent is applied to the suspension in the same vessel. The process is particularly suitable for solids liquid separation in which the flocculated solids are allowed to settle by sedimentation in a gravity thickener.

Abstract: Gravity sedimentation of a first aqueous suspension of solid particles in a vessel results in formation of a second aqueous suspension of solid particles in the present invention. The process involves adding at least one organic polymeric flocculant to the first aqueous suspension to form a suspension of flocculated solid. The flocculated solids settle to form a bed of consolidated solids. Introducing an effective amount of an agent into the bed of consolidated solids or into the flocculated solids that are settling leads to formation of the second aqueous suspension. The second aqueous suspension of solid particles has a higher solids content than the first aqueous suspension of solid particles. The agent is a free radical agent or an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of concentrating an aqueous suspension of solid particles comprising the steps of adding at least one organic polymeric flocculant to the suspension thereby forming flocculated solids in which the flocculated solids are allowed form a layer of solids and thereby forming a more concentrated suspension in which the process comprises the addition of an effective amount of an agent that is selected from the group consisting of free radical agents, oxidising agents, enzymes and radiation, in which the agent is applied to the suspension prior to or substantially simultaneously with adding the organic polymeric flocculant and/or the organic polymeric flocculant is added to the suspension in a vessel and the agent is applied to the suspension in the same vessel. The process is particularly suitable for solids liquid separation in which the flocculated solids are allowed to settle by sedimentation in a gravity thickener.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of concentrating an aqueous suspension of solid particles comprising the steps of adding at least one organic polymeric flocculant to the suspension thereby forming flocculated solids in which the flocculated solids are allowed form a layer of solids and thereby forming a more concentrated suspension in which the process comprises the addition of an effective amount of an agent that is selected from the group consisting of free radical agents, oxidising agents, enzymes and radiation, in which the agent is applied to the suspension prior to or substantially simultaneously with adding the organic polymeric flocculant and/or the organic polymeric flocculant is added to the suspension in a vessel and the agent is applied to the suspension in the same vessel. The process is particularly suitable for solids liquid separation in which the flocculated solids are allowed to settle by sedimentation in a gravity thickener.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of concentrating an aqueous suspension of solid particles comprising the steps of adding at least one organic polymeric flocculant to the suspension thereby forming flocculated solids in which the flocculated solids are allowed form a layer of solids and thereby forming a more concentrated suspension in which the process comprises the addition of an effective amount of an agent that is selected from the group consisting of free radical agents, oxidising agents, enzymes and radiation, in which the agent is applied to the suspension prior to or substantially simultaneously with adding the organic polymeric flocculant and/or the organic polymeric flocculant is added to the suspension in a vessel and the agent is applied to the suspension in the same vessel. The process is particularly suitable for solids liquid separation in which the flocculated solids are allowed to settle by sedimentation in a gravity thickener.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition consisting essentially of a mineral substrate and a dust suppresant, which is adhered to the surface of the mineral substrate, and methods of reducing dust generation of a mineral substrate by applying a dust suppresant to the surface of the mineral substrate. The dust suppresant is a natural or synthetic triglyceride.

Abstract: A process in which material comprising an aqueous liquid with dispersed particulate solids is pumped as a fluid then allowed to stand and rigidify and the rigidification is improved whilst retaining the pump ability of the material by combining polymeric particles with the material during or prior to pumping the material, wherein the polymeric particles comprise water soluble polymer which has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 3 dl/g. The process of the invention more effectively minimises the area taken up by a stack of the material of given volume whilst maintaining the pumpability of the material. This invention is particularly suited to material that comprises red mud from the Bayer alumina process.