GB1230166A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,230,166. Flocculating clay - containing aqueous mineral suspensions. SIMONACCO Ltd. 22 April, 1968 [28 April, 1967], No. 18885/68. Heading C1A. The solids content of aqueous mineral suspensions containing 0À5-350 g./l. of solids, of which 2-98% by weight is clay of particle size 0À05- 80 microns, is concentrated and separated by (1) causing coagulation of all the solids by adding a defined amount of compound which forms a complex with the clay, the compound being in the form of an aqueous solution of less than 1% by wt. concentration; (2) separating the coagulated floes from the supernatant liquor; (3) treating the separated and coagulated floes with one or more floe thickening agents and/or filter aids; (4) separating the thickened concentrate from the liquid phase by mechanical means. The quantity of complexing agent used is greater than the minimal amount needed to produce stable floes larger than 5 millimicrons in size, and which are capable, after dispersion, of being re-formed at the original rate and to the original size. Specified amounts of complexing agent are at least 50 mg./kg. solids when a single agent is used, or at least 30 mg/kg if a mixture of agents is used. Specified complexing agents are: albumins, proteins, scleroproteins, complexes of polycarboxylic acids with proteins, polypeptides, polysaccharides, monomeric or polymeric amines or amides, polyacrylic acid and its salts. Specified floc thickening agents are polyamines, polypeptides, polyamides, polyacrylic acid and its salts. Specified filter aids are CaO, BaO, micropumice or clinoptilolite. In examples, solids are spearated from suspensions of dead coal rock, raw phosphate, dead rock of manganese ore and a floated galenitesphalerite ore.