Rothman Paul J.,Fernald Mark R.,Didden Francis K.,O'Keefe Christian V.,Kersey Alan D.,Adamson Douglas H.
申请号：
US201214119013
公开号：
US9943860(B2)
申请日:
2012.05.25
申请国别(地区):
美国
年份:
2018
代理人:
Ware, Fressola, Maguire & Barber LLP
摘要：
An apparatus and method for collecting mineral particles in the tailings is disclosed. The apparatus may take the form of a filter, a conveyor belt, a collection plate or an impeller configured to contact with tailings of a flotation process, before and/or after the tailings are discharged into a pond. The filter, conveyor belt, collection plate or impeller has a collection area or surface made of, or coated with, a synthetic material having a functional group, e.g., having an ionizing bond to attract the mineral particles of interest. Alternatively, the synthetic material has hydrophobic molecules to render the collection area hydrophobic. When the mineral particles of interest in the tailings are combined with collector molecules, the mineral particles of interest may also become hydrophobic. The hydrophobic mineral particles of interest are attracted to the hydrophobic collection area or surface. The filter, conveyor belt, collection plate and impeller may have a plurality of passage ways or synthetic bead
