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:
May. 31, 2016
Filed:
May. 25, 2012
Paul J. Rothman, Windsor, CT (US);
Mark R. Fernald, Enfield, CT (US);
Francis K. Didden, Wallingford, CT (US);
Christian V. O'keefe, Durham, CT (US);
Alan D. Kersey, South Glastonbury, CT (US);
Douglas H. Adamson, Mansfield Center, CT (US);
Paul J. Rothman, Windsor, CT (US);
Mark R. Fernald, Enfield, CT (US);
Francis K. Didden, Wallingford, CT (US);
Christian V. O'Keefe, Durham, CT (US);
Alan D. Kersey, South Glastonbury, CT (US);
Douglas H. Adamson, Mansfield Center, CT (US);
CiDRA Corporate Services Inc., Wallingford, CT (US);
Abstract
A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attracting mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.