Patent ID: 9192968
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: B01J,B02C,B03B,B08B,C22B,C23G,Y02P,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A system for treating particulate solids, comprising: a processor comprising a size selection assembly that selects the particulate solids according to a predetermined size and a grinder that grinds the particulate solids to a predetermined apparent density; an ultrasonic transducer producing an ultrasound signal; a rotating screw feeder having a portion extending through an active region of the ultrasound signal produced by the ultrasonic transducer, the screw feeder having a plurality of flights each separated from one another by a predetermined distance; and a slurry including water and the particulate solids disposed within the screw feeder in which the particulate solids are contained within chambers defined by the flights of the screw feeder and move along the screw feeder as the screw feeder rotates, the particulate solids contained within a chamber disposed within the active region of the ultrasound signal being sufficiently agitated by the ultrasound signal to cause contaminants to separate from the particulate solids contained within said chamber, wherein the processor is operably coupled to the screw feeder and is configured such that the particulate solids having a size greater than the predetermined size are diverted to the grinder and the particulate solids having a size less than the predetermined size are supplied from the size selection assembly to the screw feeder without being diverted to the grinder.