Cyclone underflow scavengering process using enhanced mineral separation circuits (EMSC)

Abstract

A system is provided for processing a circulating load in comminution circuit of a mineral separation process for separating mineral particles of interest from an ore, featuring: a coarse screen and an enhanced mineral separation circuit (EMSC). The coarse screen may be configured to receive a cyclone underflow having mineral particles of interest and forming part of the circulating load of the comminution circuit, and provide coarse screen feeds for further processing. The enhanced mineral separation circuit may include a collection processor configured to receive one of the coarse screen feeds, and may also include at least one collection apparatus located in the collection processor, the at least one collection apparatus having a collection surface configured with a functionalized polymer comprising a plurality of molecules having a functional group configured to attract the mineral particles of interest to the collection surface, and provide enhanced mineral separation circuit feeds for further processing in the system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.