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Method of increasing flotation rate

  • US 6,799,682 B1
  • Filed: 05/16/2000
  • Issued: 10/05/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A process of separating hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles dispersed in an aqueous slurry, the process comprising:

  • adding a hydrocarbon oil to increase the hydrophobicity of said hydrophobic particles;

    providing at least one hydrophobicity-enhancing reagent in the aqueous slurry to further increase the hydrophobicity of said hydrophobic particles, said at least one hydrophobicity-enhancing reagent not including a hydrocarbon oil and provided in an amount equal to or less than 0.6% of the weight hydrophobic particles in said slurry;

    agitating the aqueous slurry to aid said hydrophobicity-enhancing reagent in adsorbing on the surface of the hydrophobic particles, whereby the hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic particles is increased;

    providing air bubbles in the aqueous slurry, whereby the hydrophobic particles collect on the surface of the air bubbles, thereby forming bubble-particle aggregates; and

    allowing the bubble-particle aggregates to float to the surface of the aqueous slurry to be separated from the hydrophilic particles.

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