System and method for suppressing dust during the collection of heavy minerals
AssigneeVortex Technology, LLC
InventorsMichael J. Snyder, Jackie R. See
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and system for the environmental remediation of materials that are contaminated with heavy minerals, such as heavy metals. The invention finds utility in removing heavy minerals from materials such as soils, sediments, mine tailings and ores. The invention provides a means for removing heavy minerals from contaminated materials without the use of water while reducing the generation of dust. Thus, the invention provides an environmentally friendly method for the remediation of sites that are contaminated with heavy minerals.
Claims20
A method for collecting heavy minerals, comprising:
- a) providing a material containing dust and at least one heavy mineral;
- b) removing at least a first portion of said dust from said material thereby producing a dust suppressed material;
- c) providing a porous belt, wherein said porous belt is in contact with a plurality of cross-members;
- d) loading said dust suppressed material onto said porous belt and forcing a gas through said porous belt as said porous belt rotates upward with respect to an incline,
- e) wherein forcing said gas through said porous belt fluidizes said dust suppressed material causing a first portion of said at least one heavy mineral to gather against said plurality of cross-members, and wherein a first remainder of said dust suppressed material flows down said incline and off of said porous belt as said porous belt rotates upward with respect to said incline;
- and
- f) collecting said gathered first portion of said at least one heavy mineral.
A system for collecting heavy minerals, comprising:
- a) a particle separator that is adapted to remove dust from a material that contains at least one heavy mineral;
- b) a porous belt comprising a plurality of cross-members;
- c) an air box in gaseous communication with said porous belt;
- and
- d) a motor configured to rotate said porous belt around said air box;
- wherein said particle separator is adapted to remove dust from said material before said material is fed upon said porous belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.