Patent ID: 11931747
Assignee: FINETECH MINERALS PROPRIETARY LIMITED
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 5:
6. A method for the separation and recovery of target minerals from a feed including particulate matter which comprises target mineral particles and gangue particles, the method including the steps of:
(a) using an inverted up-flow separator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inverted up-flow separator is filled with fluid;
(b) introducing the feed comprising target mineral particles and gangue particles, into an upper column of the inverted up-flow separator;
(c) providing an up-flow working fluid from a fluid supply means in fluid flow communication with the at least one working fluid inlet of the inverted up-flow separator; and
(d) maintaining a consistent up-flow of fluid thereby imparting upon the particulate matter a higher up-flow velocity in a lower column of the inverted up-flow separator than the up-flow velocity imparted upon particulate matter in the upper column.