Magnetic beneficiation of clays utilizing magnetic particulates
AssigneeAnglo-American Clays Corporation
InventorsWilliam M. Price, Alan J. Nott
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Abstract
A method for magnetically separating titaniferous discolorants from a crude kaolin clay. A dispersed aqueous slurry of the clay is formed and ferrimagnetic particles are thereupon spontaneously coflocculated with the titaniferous discolorants by seeding the slurry with a system of said particles. The system includes predominantly sub-micron size particles, and the particles further, have an isoelectric point in relation to that of the titaniferous discolorants to enable the spontaneous coflocculation. The slurry is thereupon passed through a porous ferromagnetic matrix in the presence of a magnetic field, to separate the coflocculated particles and discolorants at the matrix.
Claims15
A method for magnetically separating titaniferous discolorants from a crude kaolin clay, comprising the steps of:
- forming a dispersed aqueous slurry of said clay;
- spontaneously coflocculating ferrimagnetic particles with said titaniferous impurities by seeding said slurry with a system of said particles, wherein said particles are predominantly sub-micron in size and comprise a magnetic ferrite of the general formula MO.Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, where M is a divalent metal ion;
- and
- passing the resultant slurry through a porous ferromagnetic matrix in the presence of a magnetic field, to separate said coflocculated particles and impurities at said matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.