Sorting of ores with detectable compounds

Claim 2

A process for separating ore particles from gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles with a conditioning agent comprising a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a detectable moiety, to selectively coat either i. at least a portion of the ore particles or ii. at least a portion of the gangue particles to the substantial exclusion of the other; b. detecting the coated particles; and c. separating the detected, coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles.

Claim 3

A process for separating ore particles, which include relatively higher grade ore particles and relatively lower grade ore particles, from gangue particles comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles with a conditioning agent comprising a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety, which renders the compound fluorescent when exposed to external radiation, to selectively coat either i. at least a portion of the ore particles or ii. at least a portion of the gangue particles to the substantial exclusion of the other; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing the coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating the fluorescing, coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles.

Claim 4

A process for separating ore particles, which include relatively higher grade ore particles and relatively lower grade ore particles, from gangue particles comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles with a conditioning agent comprising a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety, which renders the compound fluorescent when exposed to external radiation, to selectively coat either i. at least a portion of the ore particles or ii. at least a portion of the gangue particles to the substantial exclusion of the other; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing the coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating the fluorescing, coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles.

Claim 5

A process as in claim 2, in which coated higher grade ore particles are distinguished and separated from lesser coated lower grade ore particles and the substantially uncoated gangue particles.

Claim 6

A process as in claim 2, in which coated gangue particles and lesser coated lower grade ore particles are distinguished and separated from substantially uncoated higher grade ore particles.

Claim 7

A process as in claim 2, in which the surface-selective group comprises a cationic surfactant.

Claim 8

A process as in claim 2, in which the surface-selective group comprises an anionic surfactant.

Claim 9

A process as in claim 2, in which the surface-selective group comprises a nonionic surfactant.

Claim 10

A process as in claim 2, in which the surface-active group comprises an amphoteric surfactant.

Claim 11

A process as in claim 2, in which the fluorescent moiety comprises a polynuclear aromatic group.

Claim 12

A process as in claim 2, wherein the particles have a size in the range of from about one-fourth inch to about eight inches.

Claim 13

A process as in claim 2, wherein the particles have a size in the range of from about one-half inch to about four inches.

Claim 14

A process as in claim 2, further comprising dissolving the conditioning agent in water.

Claim 15

A process as in claim 12, wherein the conditioning comprises immersing the particles in an aqueous solution of the conditioning agent.

Claim 16

A process as in claim 12, wherein the conditioning comprises spraying the particles with an aqueous solution of the conditioning agent.

Claim 17

A process for separating higher grade ore particles from lower grade ore particles and gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent, said conditioning agent comprising a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the compound fluorescent when exposed to external radiation thereby selectively coating the ore particles in a degree dependent upon the grade of the ore, to the substantial exclusion of the gangue particles; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent for distinguishing among coated particles and coated particles from substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating fluorescing, higher grade ore particles from lesser fluorescing, lower grade ore particles and substantially uncoated gangue particles.

Claim 18

A process for separating higher grade ore particles from lower grade ore particles and gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent, said conditioning agent comprising a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the compound fluorescent when exposed to external radiation thereby selectively coating the ore particles in a degree dependent upon the grade of the ore, to the substantial exclusion of the gangue particles; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent for distinguishing among coated particles and coated particles from substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating fluorescing, higher grade ore particles from lesser fluorescing, lower grade ore particles and substantially uncoated gangue particles.

Claim 19

A process for separating higher grade ore particles from lower grade ore particles and gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent, said conditioning agent comprising a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the compound fluorescent when exposed to external radiation, thereby selectively coating the gangue particles and, to a lesser degree, the lower grade ore particles, to the substantial exclusion of the higher grade ore particles; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent for distinguishing among the coated particles and coated particles from substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating fluorescing gangue particles and lesser fluorescing, lower grade ore particles from substantially uncoated higher grade ore particles.

Claim 20

A process for separating higher grade ore particles from lower grade ore particles and gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent, said conditioning agent comprising a compound having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the compound fluorescent when exposed to external radiation, thereby selectively coating the gangue particles and, to a lesser degree, the lower grade ore particles, to the substantial exclusion of the higher grade ore particles; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent for distinguishing among the coated particles and coated particles from substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating fluorescing gangue particles and lesser fluorescing, lower grade ore particles from substantially uncoated higher grade ore particles.

Claim 21

A process for separating higher grade oil shale particles from lower grade oil shale particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the oil shale particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent comprising 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin acid sulfate having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the conditioning agent fluorescent when exposed to external radiation, thereby selectively coating the lower grade oil shale particles and coating to a lesser degree the higher grade oil shale particles; b. irradiating the conditioned oil shale particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing among the coated oil shale particles; and c. separating the fluorescing lower grade oil shale particles from lesser fluorescing higher grade oil shale particles.

Claim 22

A process for separating higher grade oil shale particles from lower grade oil shale particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the oil shale particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent comprising 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin acid sulfate having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the conditioning agent fluorescent when exposed to external radiation, thereby selectively coating the lower grade oil shale particles and coating to a lesser degree the higher grade oil shale particles; b. irradiating the conditioned oil shale particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing among the coated oil shale particles; and c. separating the fluorescing lower grade oil shale particles from lesser fluorescing higher grade oil shale particles.

Claim 23

A process for separating higher grade coal particles from lower grade coal particles and pyrite particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the coal particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent comprising 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin acid sulfate having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the conditioning agent fluorescent when exposed to external radiation, thereby selectively coating the pyrite particles and, to a lesser degree, lower grade coal particles containing pyrite, to the substantial exclusion of the higher grade coal particles; b. irradiating the conditioned coal particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing the coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating the fluorescing pyrite particles and the lesser fluorescing, lower grade coal particles from the substantially uncoated higher grade coal particles.

Claim 24

A process for separating higher grade coal particles from lower grade coal particles and pyrite particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the coal particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent comprising 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin acid sulfate having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the conditioning agent fluorescent when exposed to external radiation, thereby selectively coating the pyrite particles and, to a lesser degree, lower grade coal particles containing pyrite, to the substantial exclusion of the higher grade coal particles; b. irradiating the conditioned coal particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing the coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating the fluorescing pyrite particles and the lesser fluorescing, lower grade coal particles from the substantially uncoated higher grade coal particles.

Claim 25

A process for separating higher grade calcite particles from lower grade calcite particles and siliceous gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent comprising 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin acid sulfate having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the conditioning agent fluorescent when exposed to external radiation thereby selectively coating the calcite particles in a degree dependent upon the grade of the calcite particle, to the substantial exclusion of the siliceous gangue particles; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing the coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating the fluorescing, higher grade calcite particles from the lesser fluorescing, lower grade calcite particles and the substantially uncoated siliceous gangue particles.

Claim 26

A process for separating higher grade calcite particles from lower grade calcite particles and siliceous gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent comprising 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin acid sulfate having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the conditioning agent fluorescent when exposed to external radiation thereby selectively coating the calcite particles in a degree dependent upon the grade of the calcite particle, to the substantial exclusion of the siliceous gangue particles; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing the coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating the fluorescing, higher grade calcite particles from the lesser fluorescing, lower grade calcite particles and the substantially uncoated siliceous gangue particles.

Claim 27

A process for separating higher grade wollastonite ore particles from lower grade wollastonite ore particles and siliceous gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent comprising 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin acid sulfate having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the conditioning agent fluorescent when exposed to external radiation thereby selectively coating the wollastonite ore particles in a degree dependent upon the grade of the wollastonite ore, to the substantial exclusion of the siliceous gangue particles; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing the coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating the fluorescing, higher grade wollastonite ore particles from the lesser fluorescing, lower grade wollastonite ore particles and the substantially uncoated siliceous gangue particles.

Claim 28

A process for separating higher grade wollastonite ore particles from lower grade wollastonite ore particles and siliceous gangue particles, comprising the steps of: a. conditioning the particles by spraying with an aqueous solution of a conditioning agent comprising 7-diethylamino-4-methylcoumarin acid sulfate having both a surface-selective functional group and a fluorescent moiety which renders the conditioning agent fluorescent when exposed to external radiation thereby selectively coating the wollastonite ore particles in a degree dependent upon the grade of the wollastonite ore, to the substantial exclusion of the siliceous gangue particles; b. irradiating the conditioned particles to excite and induce fluorescence of the conditioning agent to a degree sufficient for distinguishing the coated particles from the substantially uncoated particles; and c. separating the fluorescing, higher grade wollastonite ore particles from the lesser fluorescing, lower grade wollastonite ore particles and the substantially uncoated siliceous gangue particles.