Method of processing nepheline syenite
AssigneeUnimin Corporation
InventorsJerry William Janik, Daniel John Lachapelle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of processing a useable particulated nepheline syenite including providing particulate nepheline syenite with a maximum first grain size; milling the nepheline syenite in a ball mill operated substantially dry to produce a dry feed stock with particles less than a given size; and, using an air classifier to remove particles having a second grain size from the feed stock to provide an Einlehner Abrasive Value of less than about 100. In practice the second grain size is less than 5 microns and the distribution profile is generally 4-5 microns. The product produced by the method is, thus, novel.
Claims26
1-74. (canceled)
An in-line, continuous method for producing a new nepheline syenite product comprising a dry powder substantially free of agglomerations and with at least 99% of the particles of said powder having a controlled particle size less than 10 microns, said method comprising:
- (a) dry grinding a pre-processed, particulate nepheline syenite into a nepheline syenite powder;
- (b) grading said nepheline syenite powder into a nepheline syenite feedstock having a first particle size distribution profile with a maximum particle size less than 1000 microns;
- (c) dry milling said nepheline syenite feedstock to form said feedstock into an ultra-fine nepheline syenite powder with a second particle size distribution profile less than said first profile;
- (d) passing said ultra-fine nepheline syenite powder through an air classifier with an air flow to control operation of said classifier;
- and,
- (e) setting the air flow of said air classifier to separate from said ultra-fine nepheline syenite powder larger particles having a particle size greater than said controlled particle size to isolate an output material comprising said new nepheline syenite product.
The method of converting a pre-processed nepheline syenite particulate feedstock with a particle size profile having a maximum particle size greater than 20 microns to an ultra-fine grain finish product for subsequent commercial use, said ultra-fine grain product having a maximum grain size of less than 10 microns, said method comprising:
- (a) grinding said feedstock in a dry state by passing said feedstock through a ball mill whereby said feedstock is ground into an intermediate powder, said intermediate powder having a particle size profile drastically reduced from said particle size profile of said feedstock;
- (b) passing said intermediate powder through an air classifier to separate said ultra-fine product from said intermediate powder to leave a coarse material;
- (c) collecting said separated ultra-fine product;
- and,
- (d) returning said separated coarse material to said mill for regrinding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.