Patent ID: 7473407

Claim:
A process for the beneficiation of trona comprising: supplying a feedstream comprising trona; crushing the trona; drying the trona; separating the dried trona into a first fraction and a second fraction, the first fraction having a nominal mesh size larger than the nominal mesh size of the second fraction; introducing the first fraction to at least one magnetic separator to remove magnetic impurities, wherein the magnetic separator comprises at least two stages in series, each stage comprising: a conveyor system comprising a first end, a second end, and a conveyor belt; a magnetic roller disposed at the second end of the conveyor system; and a splitter disposed adjacent the second end of the conveyor system for separating a fraction of magnetic impurities from the trona to create a beneficiated fraction, wherein the beneficiated fraction from the first stage is fed to the second stage; deionizing at least one conveyor belt; and removing airborne dust particles from an area surrounding at least one conveyor system.