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:
Apr. 17, 2018
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
An apparatus and method for collecting mineral particles in the tailings is disclosed. The apparatus may take the form of a filter, a conveyor belt, a collection plate or an impeller configured to contact with tailings of a flotation process, before and/or after the tailings are discharged into a pond. The filter, conveyor belt, collection plate or impeller has a collection area or surface made of, or coated with, a synthetic material having a functional group, e.g., having an ionizing bond to attract the mineral particles of interest. Alternatively, the synthetic material has hydrophobic molecules to render the collection area hydrophobic. When the mineral particles of interest in the tailings are combined with collector molecules, the mineral particles of interest may also become hydrophobic. The hydrophobic mineral particles of interest are attracted to the hydrophobic collection area or surface. The filter, conveyor belt, collection plate and impeller may have a plurality of passage ways or synthetic beads in order to increase the contacting surfaces.