Systems and methods for the environmental remediation of materials contaminated with heavy minerals
AssigneeVortex Technology, LLC
InventorsMichael J. Snyder, Jackie R. See
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and system for the environmental remediation of materials that are contaminated with heavy minerals, such as heavy metals. The invention finds utility in removing heavy minerals from materials such as soils, sediments, mine tailings and ores. The invention provides a means for removing heavy minerals from contaminated materials without the use of water while reducing the generation of dust. Thus, the invention provides an environmentally friendly method for the remediation of sites that are contaminated with heavy minerals.
Claims16
A method for the environmental remediation of a material that is contaminated with heavy minerals, the method comprising:
- providing a material that is contaminated with at least one heavy mineral;
- subjecting the contaminated material to a vortex particle separator under conditions sufficient to remove a first portion of dust particles from the contaminated material thereby producing a dust suppressed contaminated material;
- loading the dust suppressed contaminated material onto a porous belt assembly that comprises a plurality of cross members, wherein the belt assembly comprises a top layer of cotton fabric and wherein the belt assembly rotates upward with respect to an incline;
- forcing a gas through the belt assembly as the belt assembly rotates upward with respect to the incline;
- wherein the forcing of the gas through the belt assembly fluidizes the dust suppressed contaminated material in a manner that causes at least a first portion of the at least one heavy mineral to gather on the plurality of cross members while the remainder of the dust suppressed contaminated material flows down the incline and off of the belt assembly as the belt assembly rotates upward with respect to the incline;
- and
- collecting the gathered at least one heavy mineral.
A system for the environmental remediation of a material that is contaminated with a heavy mineral, the system comprising:
- a vortex particle separator that is configured to remove dust particles from a material that is contaminated with at least one heavy mineral;
- a porous belt assembly having a top layer comprised of cotton fabric wherein the porous belt assembly is configured to receive from the vortex particle separator the material that is contaminated with at least one heavy mineral;
- an air box in gaseous communication with the porous belt assembly, wherein the porous belt assembly surrounds the air box and the gaseous communication forces a gas through the porous belt assembly and the contaminated material;
- and
- a motor for driving the porous belt assembly in a manner that causes the porous belt assembly to rotate about the air box at an incline with respect to a horizontal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.