Cargill Inc.

The Mosaic Company

Mos Holdings Inc.

Stanley A Patterson

Stephen C Pegram

Christopher L Davidson

Anthony F Harding

Thomas L Coulter

Scott P Klein

David R Spedden

David Kennedy

John R Schmedeman

An apparatus for separating a mineral from a slurry of mineral and impurities, including a fluid vessel having a first, open end and a second end and a feed well disposed near the first end. The feed well has a first, open end, for receiving the slurry, and a second end. At least one first member is received through the first ends of the vessel and the feed well for providing aerated water, creating a froth in the feed well including substantially the mineral. The mineral froth substantially separates from the impurities and floats out of the feed well towards the first end of the vessel, and a collection unit receives the mineral froth. The impurities and any remaining mineral fall toward the second end of the vessel. A measurement unit is placed within the vessel for measuring at least one of density and pressure of the fluid in the vessel. A related process includes introducing the slurry into the first, open end of the feed well, providing aerated water to the feed well and the vessel in a direction from the first ends to the second ends, respectively, creating a froth in the feed well including substantially the mineral, substantially separating the mineral froth from the impurities, collecting the mineral froth, and allowing the impurities and any un-separated mineral to fall towards the second end of the vessel. Further, the process includes measuring at least one of density and pressure of the fluid in the vessel.

Column flotation cell for enhanced recovery of minerals such as phosphates by froth flotation

An on-line sampling and analysis system and method in which a sampling line inlet pipe receives a continuous flow of a suspension or a slurry having particulates, such as grains, seed or phosphate rock, for rapid analysis of the contents therein in a flowing stream. A sample presentation area such as a window is positioned below the flow of the suspension or slurry in an assembly allowing for the depositing of a sample of solid content from the suspension or slurry which is collected for viewing by a computer controlled video camera. The camera is provided for imaging the sample of the solid content collected at the sample presentation area, and a personal computer analyzes images provided by the camera to characterize the content of the fluid media. A media flow director positioned in the suspension or slurry flow through the assembly, and above the sample presentation area, generates a vortex for removing the sample of the solid content deposited on the sample presentation area, allowing for the collection of another sample from the suspension or slurry at the sample presentation area. The vortex tube is coupled with associated bypass piping to remove the sample from the system, or return the solid content sample to the flow of the fluid suspension or slurry downstream of the sample presentation area for continuous operation without interruption of the flow in the sampling line. The personal computer provides a user interface for monitoring the content of the suspension or slurry.

Particulate compositions

On-line sampling and image analyzer for determining solid content in a fluid media

Growing community of inventors

Lithia, FL, United States of America

Stanley A Patterson