Patent ID: 6378703
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B03D

Abstract:
The method for treating kaolin clay to remove particles of titanium mineral impurities therefrom which comprises the steps of:(a) mixing said kaolin clay with said impurities with water and a clay dispersant selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate and an alum-silicate hydrosol using sufficient water and dispersant to provide a fluid slurry having a solid content of at least 25%, (b) adjusting the pH of the slurry from step (a) to a value in the range of 6 to 9, (c) adding to said fluid slurry a hydroxamate flotation collector, (d) conditioning the slurry from step (c) using sufficient mechanical energy to raise the temperature of the conditioned slurry to about 130Â° F. to 170Â° F. (e) introducing air bubble to the heated conditioned slurry from step (d) thereby producing a froth which is a concentrate of particles of titania impurities, removing said froth from the remainder of said slurry which is a concentrate of kaolin clay having a reduced content of particles of titania impurities in the form of a fluid dispersed slurry and (f) recovering said concentrate of purified kaolin clay having a reduced content of particles of titania impurities.