GB511972A - Improvements in or relating to the separation of minerals - Google Patents

Abstract

511,972. Wet-separating. IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, Ltd., (Du Pont de Nemours & Co., E.I.). Feb. 28, 1938, No. 6296. [Class 82 (ii)] [Also in Group I] In a process of separating a mixture of solids of different specific gravities by the action of a parting liquid of intermediate specific gravity, the solids in a divided form are introduced into a moving stream of liquid floating on a relatively still body of parting liquid and the separated parts removed. In the Figure coal with its indigenous materials is introduced at 31, where a baffle 35 is provided, to a tank having a sump 11 filled with the heavy liquid. Water entering at 287 carries the floats across the heavy liquid to one side of the tank where they are forced by rakes 54 on an endless band 53 to one side of a screen 34 moving over adjustable rollers. The sinks fall directly on to the near side of the screen of which the two sides are separated by a baffle 36. The liquid carried out by the separated parts as they eventually leave the liquid is removed partly by its falling into a tank 14 and partly by upper and lower water sprays 282, 284 above a tank 16 ; the parts so cleaned fall on to a scraper conveyer 40 which is divided by a partition 41 into two parts. The heavy liquid accumulating in the tank 16 is returned to the sump 11 and the water is withdrawn at 286 and reintroduced to the apparatus at 287. The liquid in the tank 14 and the overflow from the tank 16 are passed to a tank 27 where the heavy liquid is separated with the aid of baffles 272, 273 to be returned to the sump 11 and whence the water is returned to the spray.