Process for concentrating a suspension of microscopic particles
AssigneeMornex Limited
InventorSamuel Elmaleh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to the invention, the enclosure (1) contains a granular material (4) having a specific mass less, or respectively greater than that of the liquid to be treated. When the liquid is admitted through an upper inlet line (2), a granular bed is formed at the bottom of the enclosure (1) or at the upper part thereof and the colloidal particles form aggregates there. When the supply of liquid to be treated is interrupted, the granular material rises to the upper, respectively lower, part of the enclosure (1) and releases the aggregates formed, which can be recovered.
Claims13
A process for concentrating microscopic particles suspended in a liquid comprising:
- (a) passing the liquid suspension from the top to the bottom of a closed container comprising:
- (i) a bottom,
- (ii) at least one liquid inlet at the top thereof,
- (iii) at least one liquid outlet at the bottom thereof,
- (iv) granular medium with a density less than that of the liquid;
- (b) imparting a velocity to said liquid through said container sufficient to press said microscopic particles and said granular medium into a mixed bed at said bottom;
- (c) continuing passage of said liquid suspension through said bed until the bed becomes clogged with flocculated aggregates of the microscopic particles;
- (d) interrupting passage of the liquid, whereby the granular medium with a density less than that of the liquid rises in the container, and the flocculated aggregates remain near the bottom of the container;
- and
- (e) recovering the flocculated aggregates at the outlet at the bottom of the container.
A process for concentrating microscopic particles suspended in a liquid comprising:
- (a) passing the liquid suspension from the bottom to the top of a closed container comprising:
- (i) a bottom,
- (ii) at least one liquid inlet at the bottom thereof,
- (iii) at least one liquid outlet at the top thereof,
- (iv) granular medium with a density greater than that of the liquid;
- (b) imparting a velocity to said liquid through said container sufficient to carry the medium and the particles pressed together to the top of the container as a mixed bed;
- (c) continuing passage of said liquid suspension through said bed until the bed becomes clogged with flocculated aggregates of the microscopic particles;
- (d) interrupting passage of the liquid, whereby the heavier granular medium and flocculated aggregates sink separately to the bottom of the container;
- and
- (e) recovering the flocculated aggregates at the outlet at the bottom of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.