(19)
(11) EP 0 030 802 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
20.07.1983 Bulletin 1983/29

(43) Date of publication A2:
24.06.1981 Bulletin 1981/25

(21) Application number: 80304174

(22) Date of filing: 20.11.1980
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 05.12.1979 US 100618
31.12.1979 US 108611

(71) Applicant: OCCIDENTAL RESEARCH CORPORATION
 ()

(72) Inventors:
  • DiGiacomo, Peter Michael
     ()
  • White, William R.
     ()
  • McKinley, John Richard
     ()
  • Park, Won Choon
     ()

   


(54) Sorting particles


(57) A process for separating one type of particle (e.g., ore particles) from a second type of particle (e.g., gangue particles) comprising the steps of (1) conditioning the particles to selectively mark one type of particle (i.e. either the ore particles or the gangue particles), to the substantial exclusion of the other; (2) detecting the marked particles; and (3) separating the detected marked particles from the substantially unmarked particles is characterised by the use, as a conditioning agent, of a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a detectable moiety. In one embodiment, the detectable moiety is fluorescent and detecting is performed under ultraviolet radiation. The process is especially useful for separating higher grade limestone from lower grade limestone and/or gangue or for separating oil shale or coal of high heat value from lower heat content materials or for concentrating valuable minerals, such as silver or copper ores.





Search report