Patent ID: 7690589
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: B01F,B02C

Abstract:
1. A method of separating at least one cluster of a plurality of clustered particles of a specified material, comprising: (a) initiating the wetting of at least a portion of the plurality of clustered particles by distributing at least the portion of the plurality of clustered particles throughout a liquid system which initiates a replacement of unwanted liquids and/or gases found at a particle surface deposited or formed during particle synthesis, thereby producing at least a portion of a wetted plurality of clustered particles; (b) disaggregating at least the portion of the wetted plurality of clustered particles into a disaggregated material comprising a plurality of smaller clusters, discrete particles or any combination thereof by applying at least one of the following: shearing forces, milling forces, agitating forces, impacting forces or any combination thereof, to at least the portion of the wetted plurality of clustered particles to diminish the size of the wetted plurality of clustered particles, expose particle surfaces containing unwanted liquids and/or gases, and simultaneously replacing the unwanted liquids and/or gases, thereby producing the disaggregated material; (c) stabilizing at least a portion of the disaggregated material by reducing or eliminating specified controlling attractive forces; and (d) separating at least a portion of the wetted, disaggregated and stabilized material into at least one specified particle size range, wherein the specified material is at least one of the following: ultra-dispersed diamond (UDD), ultra-nano crystalline diamond (UNCD), coal, or any combination thereof.