Charged engineered polymer beads/bubbles functionalized with molecules for attracting and attaching to mineral particles of interest for flotation separation
US9839919B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 2013 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB03C2201/18
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Apparatus is providing featuring a synthetic bead having a solid-phase body with a surface, and being configured with a predetermined electric charge so as to respond to a corresponding predetermined electric field; and a plurality of molecules attached to at least part of the surface, the molecules comprising a functional group selected for attracting and attaching one or more mineral particles of interest to the molecules. Some combination of the solid-phase body or the surface may be configured from a polymer. The polymer may be polyethylenimine. The polyethylenimine may be engineered or configured to be highly charged so as to be used to collect the mineral particles of interest and then manipulated through and by the corresponding predetermined electric field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.