Method of separating and de-watering fine particles
AssigneeVirginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
InventorRoe-Hoan YOON
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Abstract
A process for cleaning and dewatering hydrophobic particulate materials is presented. The process is performed in two steps: 1) agglomeration of the hydrophobic particles in a first hydrophobic liquid/aqueous mixture; followed by 2) dispersion of the agglomerates in a second hydrophobic liquid to release the water trapped within the agglomerates along with the entrained hydrophilic particles.
Claims20
A process for separating a hydrophobic particulate material and its hydrophilic contaminant dispersed in an aqueous slurry, the process comprising the steps of
- a. agitating the aqueous slurry under conditions of high-shear agitation in the presence of a first hydrophobic liquid to form agglomerates of the hydrophobic particulate material;
- b. separating the agglomerates from the aqueous liquid;
- c. dispersing the agglomerates in a second hydrophobic liquid, so that the water trapped in between the particles constituting said agglomerates is liberated from the hydrophobic particles;
- and
- d. separating the hydrophobic particles from the hydrophobic liquid and the water liberated from said agglomerates, thereby obtaining hydrophobic particles substantially free of hydrophilic contaminant and water.
A process for removing water trapped in a filter cake of hydrophobic particles comprising the steps of
- a. dispersing the filter cake in a hydrophobic liquid, so that so that the entrapped water is liberated;
- and
- b. separating the hydrophobic particles from the hydrophobic liquid and the liberated water, thereby obtaining hydrophobic particles substantially free of hydrophilic contaminant and water
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.