The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 20, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 02, 2005
Alexander Patist, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Darren Miles Bates, Tewantin, AU;
Karen Ann Mikkola, Lakeland, FL (US);
John Llewellyn Yasalonis, Lakeland, FL (US);
Trent William Weatherwax, Lakewood, IL (US);
Donald Robert Clark, Tampa, FL (US);
Alexander Patist, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Darren Miles Bates, Tewantin, AU;
Karen Ann Mikkola, Lakeland, FL (US);
John Llewellyn Yasalonis, Lakeland, FL (US);
Trent William Weatherwax, Lakewood, IL (US);
Donald Robert Clark, Tampa, FL (US);
Cargill, Incorporated, Wayzata, MN (US);
Abstract
In a process for beneficiating phosphate rock a slurry is provided having 30% to 70% by weight of a liquid phase and having a solid phase comprising clay, sand, and phosphate rock. In the process, the slurry is exposed to ultrasonic energy released from a sonotrode located within the slurry. The slurry may be exposed to the ultrasonic energy for less than 10 seconds. The ultrasonic energy may be produced by a piezoceramic transducer to have a resonance frequency within the range of from 16 kHz to 100 kHz. The ultrasonic energy may have an intensity within the range of from 0.0001 W/cmto about 1000 W/cm. The ultrasonic energy may create cavitational forces within the slurry. After exposure to ultrasonic energy, clay and sand are separated from the phosphate rock, perhaps using an air flotation process and a cycloning process.