Magnetic separation of particular mixtures |
|||||||
| 申请号 | US37633573 | 申请日 | 1973-07-05 | 公开(公告)号 | US3926789A | 公开(公告)日 | 1975-12-16 |
| 申请人 | MARYLAND PATENT DEV CO INC; | 发明人 | SHUBERT ROLAND H; | ||||
| 摘要 | Particulate mixtures of non-magnetic or paramagnetic materials are separated by selectively coating the surfaces of a component or components of the mixture with a magnetic fluid. Thereafter, the particulate mixture is subjected to a magnetic separation yielding a magnetic fluid-coated fraction and a non-magnetic fraction. The process is especially useful in mineral beneficiation wherein a mineral concentrate is recovered from its ore. | ||||||
| 权利要求 | 1. A METHOD OF RECOVERING A MAINERAL FROM THE GANGUE CONSTITUENTS OF ITS ORE WHICH COMPRISES: COMMINUTING THE ORE TO A SIZE RANGE WHEREAT THERE IS ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL PHYSICAL LIBERATION OF THE MINERAL FROM THE GANGUE CONSTITUENTS OF THE ORE; RENDERING THE SURFACES OF THE MINERAL PARTICLES MAGNETIC BY SELECTIVELY WETTING THE SURFACES OF SAID MINERAL PARTICLES WITH A MAGNETIC FLUID, SAID MAGNETIC FLUID COMPRISING AN ULTRA-STABLE COLLOIDAL SUSPENSION OF MAGNETIC PATICLES IN A LIQUID CARRIER, SAID LIQUID CARRIER BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUPS CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS, FLUOROCARBONS, SILICONE OILS, WATER AND ESTERS, SAID MAGNETIC FLUID BEING CAPABLE OF REATING WITH AN EXTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELD AND DISPLAYING THE BEHAVIOR OF A HOMOGENEOUS NEWTONIAN LIQUID, AND 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of mineral particles are not readily wet by water and wherein the surfaces of particulate gangue constituents of the ore are readily wet by water. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the magnetic fluid is immiscible with water and wherein the mineral particles are selectively wetted with said fluid by contacting a water suspension of said comminuted ore with an amount of magnetic fluid sufficient to form a thin film on the surfaces of mineral particles contained in the ore. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the mineral is selected from the group consisting of metal sulfides, metal oxides and carbonaceous ores and wherein the magnetic fluid is hydrocarbon base. 5. The method of claim 5 wherein the comminuted ore is subjected to a conditioning steps comprising a chemical treatment which renders the surfaces of mineral particles hydrophobic and organophyllic and wherein said magnetic separation is accomplished by subjecting the magnetic fluid-treated ore to the influence of a magnetic field having a field strength in excess of 1000 gauss. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the comminuted ore is subjected to a conditioning step to modify the surface properties of at least one constituent of the ore prior to wetting the mineral particles with said magnetic fluid. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said conditioning step comprises a chemical treatment which renders the surfaces of mineral particles hydrophobic and organophylic. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said conditioning step is carried out in an aqueous medium and wherein said magnetic fluid is immiscible with water. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the mineral particles are selectively wetted with said magnetic fluid by contacting a water suspension of comminuted and conditioned ore with an amount of magnetic fluid sufficient to form a thin film on the surfaces of mineral particles contained in the ore. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the magnetic fluid is hydrocarbon base and wherein the magnetic fluid is in the form of a water emulsion when it is brought into contact with the ore. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the magnetic separation is a wet separation whereby mineral particles wetted with magnetic fluid are recovered from the water suspension. 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the ore suspension is de-watered and dried to a free-flowing state after being contacted with the magnetic fluid and wherein the dried ore is subjected to a magnetic separation to recover a mineral concentrate. 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the ore is a copper ore and wherein said mineral comprises copper sulfide. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said conditioning step comprises reacting the surfaces of copper sulfide particles with ferric ion. 15. The method of claim 10 wherein the ore is a zinc ore and wherein said mineral comprises zinc sulfide. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said conditioning step comprises reacting the surfaces of zinc sulfide particles with a dilute acid. 17. The method of claim 10 wherein the ore is taconite and wherein said mineral comprises non-magnetic iron oxides. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said conditioning step comprises reacting the surfaces of iron oxide particles with a material selected from the group consisting of fatty acids and sulfonic acids. 19. The method of claim 10 wherein said ore is contacted with magnetic fluid in an amount within the range of 0.01 to 10 pounds of magnetic fluid per ton of ore and wherein said magnetic separation is accomplished by subjecting the magnetic fluid-treated ore to the influence of a magnetic field having a strength in excess of 1000 gauss. 20. A method for separating mixtures of particulate materials which do not respond to a magnetic field which comprises rendering the surfaces of at least one component of said mixture magnetic by selectively wetting the surfaces of said component with a magnetic fluid, said magnetic fluid comprising an ultra-stable colloidal suspension of magnetic particles in a liquid carrier, said liquid carrier being selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, silicone oils, water and esters, said magnetic fluid being capable of reacting with an external magnetic fluid and displaying the behavior of a homogenous Newtonian liquid, and thereafter subjecting the mixture to a magnetic separation whereby said magnetic fluid-wetted component is separated from the remainder of the mixture. 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the mixture of particulate materials is in liquid suspension and wherein a component of the mixture is selectively wetted by contacting the liquid suspension with a magnetic fluid immiscible in said liquid. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the mixture of particulate materials is subjected to a conditioning step to modify the surface properties of at least one constituent of the mixture prior to contacting the liquid suspension with the magnetic fluid. 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the magnetic fluid is emulsified in a portion of said liquid prior to contacting said liquid suspension of particulate materials with said magnetic fluid. 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the liquid is waTer, wherein the magnetic fluid is hydrocarbon base and wherein the conditioning step comprises reacting the particle surfaces of at least one constituent of the mixture with a substance which renders said surfaces organophylic. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the magnetic separation is performed in the liquid state whereby particles wetted with magnetic fluid are recovered from the water suspension. 26. The method of claim 24 wherein the particulate suspension is de-watered and dried to a free-flowing state after being contacted with the magnetic fluid and wherein the dried particulate mixture is subjected to a magnetic separation to recover a magnetically responsive fraction comprising particles wetted with magnetic fluid. |
||||||
| 说明书全文 | |||||||
QQ群二维码
意见反馈
意见反馈