Abstract: A process for the treatment of an aluminum-salt slag produced in the remelting of aluminum by the addition of salt to aluminum scrap wherein the aluminum salt slag is subjected to pressure and impact rolling to a thickness of about 0.2 mm to about 1 mm and the product is milled to an X.sub.80 value of about 130 to 150 microns. The milled product is classified in a plurality of stages to recover therefrom a large-particle fraction consisting at least predominantly of aluminum particles, and a fine-particle fraction. The fine-particle fraction is subjected to flotation in at least one flotation stage to which a base is added in an amount of 0.04 to 0.4 g of the base per ton of the material subjected to flotation to bring the pH to between 10 and 11, whereupon a cation active collector of the formula RO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --NH.sub.2 is added to recover an impurity-containing froth of low chloride level and a concentrate containing most of the chlorides of said slag.

Abstract: There is provided a method for simultaneously carrying out pulverization of ores and their leaching or extraction within a vertical abrasion mill.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a comixture of light and heavy materials includes a drum divided into two sections. In the first section, the material is introduced with a fluid, and separated from the fluid such that the fluid flows substantially the length of the first section along a "counter flow" path to wash against the material to be separated before overflowing the first section. The material to be separated separates into floating and sinking fractions, the floating fraction overflowing the first section together with the fluid. The sinking fraction is carried by a scroll along the wall of the first section to be lifted into the second section.In the second section, the sinking fraction is reduced in size by a charge of grinding balls and lifted and removed from the second section.

Abstract: Process of obtaining an anathase concentrate from an anathase ore comprehends the reduction of the anathase ore to dimensions inferior to 125 mm; disaggregation in water; classification of the suspension and elimination of slimes and silicates; grinding of the deslimed fraction and low intensity magnetic separation; grinding of the non-magnetic fraction to a value inferior to 32 mesh; calcining and slight reduction to turn the limonite and the hematite into magnetite and elimination of the magnetite in low intensity magnetic separator; and electrostatic separation of the non-magnetic fraction to obtain, as conductor, a final product which is rich in anathase and has a low grade of impurities.

Abstract: Processes for recovering coal from a particulate composite in which the composite is mechanically worked in the presence of an agglomeration promoting additive and in an aqueous carrier to effect a separation of the particles of coal in the composite from mineral matter associated therewith, a coalescence of the coal particles into product coal agglomerates, and a dispersion of the mineral matter in the aqueous carrier. The product coal agglomerates are resolved into their particulate constituents, and the latter are subjected to a density differential separation which effects a separation of that material in the agglomerates which has a relatively low mineral matter content and a high coal content from that having a higher content of mineral matter.

Abstract: A chopped mixture derived from municipal solid waste, free of ferrous metal is fed into the open upper end of a vertical rotor chamber for contact sequentially by an upper and lower high-speed rotor, with the rotor blades of the rotors further chopping the mixture and imparting centrifugal force to the mixture particles. Selectifier screens concentrically surround the rotor blades at the upper and lower rotor positions and have mesh openings which effect ballistic separation and elimination of glass, grit, sand, dust and fiber elements at these levels dependent upon the screen size openings. The two rotors are separated to form an intermediate treatment zone permitting liquid or solid spray of the mixture particles passing vertically downward from the upper rotor zone to the lower rotor zone.

Abstract: A method for separation of large-sized salt containing minerals comprises subjecting the minerals to a succession of screening, selective crumbling and screening operations. The treated fractions from the second screening are separately submitted to magnetic separation, dehydrated and the spray water recovered from dehydration of the screened fraction is processed for salt extraction.

Abstract: The leaching, precipitation and flotation method of recovering metals from ores is simplified by carrying out the leaching and precipitation steps simultaneously in the same reaction vessel. The method is particularly useful for recovering metals from low grade ores. During the leaching and precipitation step, mechanical comminution of the ore is also effected. The preferred reaction vessel is oscillated and the leaching and precipitation process is continuously effected by passage of the materials through the reaction vessel. The method is particularly suitable for recovering copper from oxygen containing copper ores.

Abstract: Method of regeneration of plastics material with higher quality from scrapped plastics, in which scrapped plastics having deteriorated surface layer caused by, such as, exposure to ultraviolet rays etc. are chopped, broken or crushed into fragmented product and this product is subjected to agitation in the presence of aqueous medium and solid particles exhibiting higher hardness than the product to scrape off the deteriorated surface layer of the scrapped plastics, whereupon the plastics material is recovered.

Abstract: Iron ore is beneficiated using separation steps based on mineral composition without the use of separation steps based entirely on size. In a preferred sequence of steps the iron ore is passed from a ball mill through a magnetic separator where low iron content tailings are rejected and the concentrate passed to a flotation step, where a high iron content concentrate froth is made and the locked, middling particles are recirculated to the ball mill.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are provided for disintegrating waste paper containing metallic and similar particulate material appreciably heavier than the paper, and separating the heavier material from an aqueous slurry of disintegrated paper fibers and particles by centrifugal force and gravity settling, comprising disintegrating waste paper in the presence of water while imparting a vortical flow to the resulting slurry of a velocity sufficient to throw relatively heavy particulate material towards the outer periphery of the resulting vortex while lighter waste paper fibers and particles move towards the inner periphery of the vortex; establishing a relatively quiescent zone below the outer periphery of the vortex; permitting the heavier particulate material in that zone to settle out and collect; and withdrawing a slurry of waste paper fibers and particles from an inner peripheral portion of the vortex relatively free from heavier particulate material.

Abstract: The float-sink separation of coal from pyrite and ash in a bath of liquid SO.sub.2 is disclosed. The specific gravity of the bath may adjusted by the addition of inert materials such as miscible materials or finely divided solids. Additional separation in another dense medium may be employed. The communition, conveying and mining of coal with liquid SO.sub.2 is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the concentration of hydrated aluminum oxide minerals from raw materials by flotation alone or in combination with magnetic separation using a series of conditioning steps prior to flotation involving dispersion, precipitation and flocculation.

Abstract: A method for preparing a steel mill waste material comprised of inner metallic cores encased in outer shells of iron oxides for use as size-graded metallic abrasives and the product so produced are described.The waste material is screened to simultaneously separate it from all the foreign matter collected therewith and also to separate it into a fraction containing particles larger than about 6.35 mm and a fraction containing particles smaller than about 6.35 mm. The fraction containing the particles larger is recycled in the steel mill. The fraction containing the smaller particles is charged into a grinding mill containing appropriate grinding media. The smaller fraction remains in the mill for a time so that the outer shells are broken into small pieces substantially all of which are removed from the surfaces of the inner cores. The pieces of the shells and the metallic cores are separated from each other by screening. The metallic cores are graded into a plurality of sizes by screening.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for beneficiating a phosphate ore matrix containing apatite, siliceous gangue, and an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impuritywhich includes the steps of washing and sizing the ore, subjecting it to a gravity separation, a conventional "double float" flotation, and a phosphate-carbonate flotation separation to provide a phosphate ore concentrate having a high BPL content and a relatively low concentration of alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity.

Abstract: Methods of separating solids from mixtures in which they are incorporated by milling the mixture in the presence of a fluorochlorocarbon.

Abstract: A process for treating a clay mineral of the kandite group comprising forming a fluid aqueous suspension of the clay mineral, the suspension having a solids content in the range of from 60% to 75% by weight and a pH in the range of from 7.0 to 11.0 and the suspension containing a dispersing agent to deflocculate the clay mineral; and treating the fluid suspension of clay containing the dispersing agent with a water-soluble reducing bleaching agent under alkaline pH conditions for a time sufficient to give the desired improvement in brightness of the clay. Preferably, the clay mineral suspension is subjected to a particle size separation process at said solids content to reduce the percentage of particles larger than 10.mu.m to not more than 3% by weight. Advantageously, the viscosity of the clay mineral suspension during the particle size separation process is below 2 poise.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing a natural calcitic ore to yield a finely divided calcium carbonate particulate of very high brightness characteristics. The natural calcitic ore is initially coarse-milled to produce a product wherein no more than 5% by weight of the particulate is +325 mesh, and no more than 35% by weight of the particles are of less than 2 microns E.S.D. This coarse-milled product is then subjected as an aqueous slurry including less than 40% solids, to a froth flotation, which separates with the froth the relatively coarse colorbodies liberated in the initial grinding. The purified underflow is then dewatered to at least 60% solids by weight, and is wet-milled, as for example in a sand mill, to yield an output product wherein at least 80% by weight of the resultant particulate has an E.S.D. of less than 2 microns, the product being further characterized by a brightness of at least 94 on the G.E. scale.

Abstract: Mica flakes are disintegrated to mica scales having a diameter of 10 mm or less and a ratio of diameter/thickness of 100-1000 by using an apparatus and a method comprising bringing about coarse size reduction followed by size reduction of the mica flakes by high-pressure jets of water, if desired together with high-pressure jets of gas, separating mica scales from mica flakes by vertical classification followed by horizontal classification, and taking out the mica scales as a slurry while recycling nondisintegrated mica flakes to size reduction. The slurry of mica scales is used for making mica paper.

Abstract: The plastic discarded in municipal solid waste is recovered by a process wherein the waste is reduced to a particulate mass having a liquid content of 20% or more such that the paper and other absorbent constituents retain sufficient liquid to be substantially heavier than the sheet plastic pieces of comparable size. The mass is then subjected to an air separation treatment wherein the plastic pieces are blown free of the paper and other constituents of the mass. In one form, the solid waste is first pulped in water to slurry form, some of the fiber is recovered from the slurry by screening, and the reject flow from the screen is dewatered and subjected to the air separation treatment. In another form, the solid waste is dry shredded and the high specific gravity materials removed prior to pulping. In still another form, the dry material is wetted sufficiently for effective air separation of the plastic.

Abstract: A slurry of coal and a liquid which includes a leaching agent is directed through a chamber. The coal particles are comminuted and cavitation is induced in said slurry while the slurry is in the chamber by contact in the slurry with a resonant vibration transmitting member. Thereafter, the liquid is separated from the comminuted particles.

Abstract: Recovery of paper fiber for reuse from waste paper materials containing plastic sheet and film is facilitated by the combination of a pulper in which the waste paper materials are pulped in a pulper equipped with a junk remover connected with the bottom of the pulper tub by a chute and provided with a recycling circuit by which the plastic and other lightweight trash picked up by the conveyor buckets in the junk remover is removed from the pulping system, passed through a detrasher for removing bulky objects, then passed through a deflaking station, and then returned to the pulper tub for further defibering. This continuous withdrawal of liquid from the junk remover and its return to the tub act to maintain the hydrostatic head in the tub at a higher effective level than in the junk remover tower and thereby to promote transfer of the plastic and other lightweight trash to the junk remover for removal by the recycling circuit.

Abstract: A process for preparing a solid load of coal from an aqueous slurry of coal particles by dividing the slurry into a first fraction containing relatively small particles and a second fraction containing relatively large particles, agglomerating the particles in the first fraction under turbulent conditions with a binder and separating the thus-obtained agglomerates from the water phase and mixing the agglomerates with the second fraction.

Abstract: An improvement in the method for recovering marketable values of solder, lead, and a zinc chloride-ammonium chloride solution from solder skimmings which comprises grinding the skimmings, water leaching the skimmings to dissolve the zinc chloride and ammonium chloride, screening the leach residue to recover solder from the leach slurry, separating the ammonium and zinc chloride solutions from the lead chloride in the leach slurry, and contacting the lead chloride with an alkaline flux, a reductant, and an oxygen-containing gas under heat to recover lead from the lead chloride.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for (1) reducing agglomerated masses of tar sand and (2) recovering as a bituminous product the bituminous matrix material therefrom. The apparatus includes a vessel which is divided into an attrition zone enclosed by a screen member, a sand separation zone and a product recovery zone. The vessel accommodates liquid which is, advantageously, a solvent into which the agglomerated masses of tar sands are introduced. The liquid is impelled vigorously upwardly into the attrition zone to create a high shear environment by which the tar sand masses are reduced by attrition into sand particles coated with the bituminous matrix material of the tar sand. The separated grains of sand are also stripped of the bituminous product by the high shear environment. The cleansed sand passes through the screen member surrounding the attrition zone into the sand separation zone. The liquid and the bituminous product removed from the sand passes to the product recovery zone.

Abstract: A method of recovering aluminum metal values and salt cake and recycling or reusing the same in an aluminum refining method is disclosed.

Abstract: Particulate glass values contained in a comminuted inorganic fraction and having the particle of a size up to about 10 mesh are recovered by froth flotation using an amine as the beneficiation reagent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for separating mature okra seed into its essential basic components of oil, germ, kernel material and hull. The separation is obtained by cracking the seed in, or immersing previously cracked seed in a liquid medium having a specific gravity of 1.3 plus or minus 0.2 at 60.degree. F. The liquid medium may be an aqueous solution adjusted with sodium chloride, sugar, or other water soluble organic material. However, in order to extract the oil, a solvent such as 1,1,1,-trichloroethane or a blend of trichlorotrifluoroethane and hexane is suitable. The liquid medium will separate the cracked components because of the differences in density of the various components. The hulls will sink in the liquid, and the germ and kernel floats or remains suspended in the liquid. The germ and kernel is then decanted from the hulls, the oil and liquid solvent is separated from the solids by a filter and the oil is extracted from the liquid solvent.

Abstract: An aqueous suspension of porous glass particles having a closely controlled average particle size within the range of about 0.7 to about 3.0 microns. The controlled particle size porous glass particles are prepared by initially milling course porous glass particles to yield particles of about 10 microns or less, leaching those particles to remove contaminants and residues, rinsing the particles, and then mixing the particles with an aqueous solution and subjecting the mixture to at least two controlled sedimentation steps.

Abstract: Metallic lead, lead compounds and plastic material are recovered from the remaining inert material in scrap storage batteries by crushing the scrap storage batteries, adding the crushed material to an aqueous suspension of magnetic granular material to separate the inert and plastic material from the metallic lead and lead compounds by suspending in an aqueous magnetic suspension the inert and plastic material but not the metallic lead and lead compounds in said suspension, separating the suspension from said metallic lead and lead compounds, magnetically separating the magnetic granular material from the inert and plastic material and then removing the plastic material from the inert material by floatation in an aqueous media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating scrap essentially consisting of non-ferromagnetic metals into several fractions by specific gravity in which only one heavy separating medium is required. The scrap has been recovered from waste products composed of metals and non-metals by reducing the particle size of the waste through grinding to a size less than 50 mm including particles as small as 0.5 mm. Thereafter, the ferromagnetic components are magnetically separated from the ground waste and the ground waste is fed to a primary specific-gravity separator where non-metallic components are separated from the non-ferromagnetic portion of the ground waste. Thereafter, further separation of the non-ferromagnetic portion in a secondary and, in some cases, tertiary separators is accomplished.

Abstract: Waste wood, such as stumps and snag, is treated to make it suitable for the production of paper pulp, whereby the raw waste wood is initially crushed so that part of the bark, sand and stones attached to the wood is detached at this stage already, the obtained crushed material is fed into a washer tank for further washing away bark, sand, stone and peat material from the wood, high-pressure water nozzles being provided at an inlet end of said washer to impinge strong water jets on the crushed wood material, and flow creating means being provided at the lower part of the washer tank to produce a water flow directed slantedly upwards towards an outlet end of the washer tank in order to entrain heavy wood fragments, which may tend to sink into the material leaving the washer tank at said outlet end thereof, said material being further after-crushed and sieved to separate an accept fraction thereof for feeding to a pulp production process.

Abstract: Shredded scrap is conveyed from a heat generating automobile shredder to one end of a horizontal tumbling drum and is caused to move in one direction through the drum as it tumbles. An air stream which has aspirated heat generated by the shredder, and carrying particulate material removed from the scrap in the shredder, is directed by ductwork to the opposite end of the tumbling drum where the air and particulate matter move in counterflow through the tumbling scrap to remove additional particulate material therefrom as the shredded particles are being showered through the air stream. The particulate material in the air stream emerging from the tumbling drum is separated out by a cyclonic separator. A bypass air stream duct with an adjustable valve bypasses some of the air stream around the tumbling drum to control the velocity of the air stream through the tumbling drum and thus to control the size of the particulate material removed from the scrap by the counterflow air stream.

Abstract: A flotation process in which copper ores or copper converter slags are ground and firstly have added thereto benzotriazole or alkyl benzotriazole as an activator and secondly one or more collectors selected from the group consisting of xanthates, dithiophosphates, thiocarbamate esters, dithiocarbamates, mercaptans and dixanthogens and further, if desired, a promoter such as kerosene, light oil, bunker oil or petroleum lubricant is added to improve the recovery for the flotation of copper ores or copper smelter slags.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating coal particles in a coal/water slurry from water of the slurry by separating the larger coal particles with a relatively small quantity of water from the smaller coal particles with a relatively large quantity of water and then agglomerating the smaller coal particles and separating the agglomerates from the water.

Abstract: Method of removing coarse materials and chemical and mineral impurities from clay in order to produce a purified high solids suspension of said clay which method involves mixing a crude clay with water and a dispersing agent to form a high solids slurry; subjecting said slurry to intense centrifugal forces for a short period of time; separating said coarse material and said chemical and mineral impurities; and recovering the suspended clay as a fine fraction having a reduced content of coarse material and impurities.

Abstract: A flotation concentrate in the form of a water suspension is treated with a reagent that nullifies the effect of previously used collectors. The suspension is filtered, and subjected to a mechanochemical treatment that includes chemical conditioning of the mineral surfaces and producing fresh surfaces by grinding with grinding bodies which additionally provide ions that promote selectivity. Grinding efficiency is controlled by the amount of material fed to the mill. The quantity of pulp flowing to the filter is determined and the supply of collector reagent to the filter and the rotary speed of the mill are regulated in response to the flow values.

Abstract: A dry milling process for separating a mineral values bearing component from the sand grains or gangue materials of sedimentary formations. The ores are crushed, ground and screened until the bulk of material is of a size corresponding to or slightly larger than the predominant size of the sand grain particles embedded in the deposit. After or before complete sizing the ore charge may be heated and dried if required before being directionally impelled and abraded. Further applied forces and guidance components distribute the materials to provide a curtain type flow pattern of directed movement that may be at least partially dependent on a primary fluid flow pattern.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the recovery of both cellulosic fibers and plastic material from plastic-coated papers and boards.This material is wet-pulped in water suspension, and the suspension is then discharged into dilution tanks for floating most of the plastic material at the upper region of the suspension, wherefrom the plastic material is mechanically separated by wire-mesh conveyors, and washed in a rotating screen.The fibrous suspension is screened in a rotating screen to eliminate the residual plastic material.

Abstract: A method for brightening a natural dolomitic ore by removal of discoloring contaminants. The ore is crushed and formed into an aqueous slurry, which slurry is then coarse-milled to produce a product wherein no more than 1% of the particulate matter is +325 mesh. This coarse-milled product is then subjected to a further, wet-milling step, to alter the particulate such that at least 70% of the particles are less than 2 microns, E.S.D. thereby liberating substantial quantities of the discoloring contaminants. The liberated impurities are thereupon separated by subjecting the slurry to a high intensity magnetic field.

Abstract: A method for brightening a natural calcitic ore by removal of discoloring contaminants. The ore is crushed and formed into an aqueous slurry, which slurry is then coarse-milled to produce a product wherein no more than 1 percent of the particulate matter is +325 mesh. This coarse-milled product is then subjected to a further, wet-milling step, to alter the particulate such that at least 70 percent of the particles are less than 2 microns, thereby liberating substantial quantities of the discoloring contaminants. The liberated impurities are thereupon separated from the slurry by flotation and/or by subjecting the slurry to a high intensity magnetic field.

Abstract: Magnesite ores are upgraded by the removal of the contaminants from the ore by a reverse flotation treatment thereof. Removal is carried out with the aid of a mixture of quaternary ammonium compounds and primary amines in combination with the use of impure kerosene.

Abstract: Froth Flotation method of separation of sodium compounds, principally nahcolite, dawsonite, trona, related authigenic sodium ores, and corresponding sodium compounds including sodium carbonate and sodium bicarboate, from kerogen-type organics-containing rock, by use of sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate-containing brines having a basic pH ranging above about 7.0, preferably 8.0 - 12.0, and recovering a sodium compounds-rich fraction as a non-float portion, and an organics-rich fraction as a float portion. Frothers, froth control agents and collection agents may be used separately or in combination. Single or multiple-stage flotation, with cleaning, conditioning, scavenging, reflotation, and combining of products may be used. Feed ore and products may be screened to upgrade the head or product assay. By this method, raw or retorted oil shale may be separated from sodium minerals or compounds contained therein.

Abstract: In the recovery of starch from cell tissue of root crop such as potatoes, by centrifuging, the feed to one of the centrifuging steps, in which an aqueous phase containing fibers and protein is separated from starch milk, is subjected to homogenization to free the fibers of included starch. Thereby, better separation in the centrifuging step is obtained.

Abstract: Mixed solid waste, such particularly as municipal waste, is subjected to a pulping action which results in fragmenting the glass and metal constitutes into particles of similar size, with the cast and foil aluminum being converted into the form of chunks and pellets respectively while the aluminum which is present as alloy, such as is used in cans and other food containers, is cut into flake-like particles, after which the mixed particles are dried and then subjected to agitation causing the flakes of aluminum to be concentrated at the top of the mix for separate removal by skimming or scalping. The remaining mixture of glass, aluminum and other materials is then subjected to high tension electrostatic treatment effecting separation of the glass from the other materials.