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US 7,744,847 B2Granted
Upgrading of zircon
AssigneeThe South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited
InventorEttienne Snyders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for upgrading an inferior grade of zircon to a superior grade thereof includes mixing the inferior grade of zircon, in comminuted form, with at least one mineralizer, to obtain a zircon/mineralizer mixture, which is a calcined product. The calcined product is washed, and thereafter, in a comminution step, the washed calcined product is comminuted to obtain a superior grade of zircon, which is suitable for use as a glaze opacifier.
Claims7
A dry process for upgrading an inferior grade of zircon to a superior grade thereof which is suitable for use as a glaze opacifier, which process includes
- mixing a comminuted inferior grade of zircon with NaF and/or (NH4)2SO4 as a mineralizer, to obtain a comminuted zircon/mineralizer mixture in the form of a homogeneous blend;
- calcining the comminuted zircon/mineralizer mixture, to produce a calcined product;
- washing the calcined product;
- and
- in a comminution step, comminuting the washed calcined product, to obtain a superior grade of zircon which is suitable for use as a glaze opacifier.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.