A flotation tank has an input to receive a slurry from a pipeline section. The slurry contains finer mineral particles and coarser mineral particles. The pipeline section has one or more loops or coiled sections arranged to perform partial centrifugal separation on the finer and coarser mineral particles. As the mineral particles are moved tangentially into the lower part of the flotation tank, the coarser mineral particles tend to be near the tank wall while the finer mineral particles tend to move into the central part of the tank. Air bubbles or lightweight synthetic bubbles are used to collect and lift the finer mineral particles to the upper part of the tank. The coarser mineral particles are recovered by using collection surfaces coated with a hydrophobic material.

A method of washing and grading silica sand for glass production includes removing trash and relatively large contaminants from a sand feed material via a sequence of multiple vibrating screens, collection sumps, hydrocyclones, a density separator, a classification tank, and a dewatering screen. The resulting silica sand product is suitable for glass production.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

A method of drying frac sand without heat is comprised of constructing a drainage system and placing sand on top of a perforated top layer thereon. The drainage system has multiple layers through which liquid passes to dewater sand resting thereon. At the bottom of the drainage system, perforated collection pipes, at least partially surrounded by rocks, collect and carry the liquid to a collection pond for reuse. A cellular confinement layer has sections of panels which, upon expansion, have cells filled with rocks. A woven monofilament geotextile fabric layer comprising woven monofilament geotextile fabric sheets sewn together has sized openings which allow fluid, but prevent sand from passing through the openings. The top layer comprises high density polyethylene perforated sheets welded together. A watertight liner sits below the collection pipes and the cellular confinement layer. Protective layers above and below the watertight liner prevent rocks from damaging same.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

A drainage system for drying frac sand without heat comprises multiple layers through which liquid passes to dewater sand resting on the drainage system. At the bottom of the drainage system, perforated collection pipes, at least partially surrounded by rocks, collect the liquid and carry it to a collection pond for reuse. A cellular confinement layer comprises sections of panels which, upon expansion, have cells filled with rocks. A woven monofilament geotextile fabric layer comprising woven monofilament geotextile fabric sheets sewn together has sized openings which allow fluid, but prevent sand from passing through the openings. The top layer comprises perforated sheets of high density polyethylene welded together. A watertight liner sits below the perforated collection pipes and below the cellular confinement layer. Protective layers above and below the watertight liner prevent rocks from damaging the watertight liner.

Provided is a channel device that is capable of increasing the concentration of fine particles in a liquid only by use of fluid-dynamic flows without relying on electrostatic interactions. A channel device (1) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a main channel (11) configured to allow a liquid containing fine particles to flow therethrough; a chamber (15) that is provided at an end of the main channel (11) and that is configured to store target fine particles which have increased in concentration; and a side channel (12) that is connected to a side face of the main channel (11) and that is configured to allow unwanted liquid to drain therethrough, wherein at least one of a height and a width of the side channel (12) is smaller than a particle size of the fine particles.

An apparatus for the wet attrition of particulate material comprising an attrition scrubber; a dewatering screen comprising a deck and a sump beneath the deck, the dewatering screen being mounted upstream of the attrition scrubber whereby oversize material from a downstream end of the deck of the dewatering screen passes into the attrition scrubber; and a hydrocyclone wherein an underflow, containing a coarser fraction of the feed slurry, passes out of a lower outlet of the hydrocylone while an overflow, containing a finer fraction of the feed slurry and most of the water, passes out of an outlet at the upper end of the hydrocyclone, a pump being provided for pumping material from the sump of the dewatering screen to the inlet of the hydrocyclone, wherein the underflow from the hydrocyclone is passed into the attrition scrubber.

An apparatus for the wet attrition of particulate material comprising an attrition scrubber; a dewatering screen comprising a deck and a sump beneath the deck, the dewatering screen being mounted upstream of the attrition scrubber whereby oversize material from a downstream end of the deck of the dewatering screen passes into the attrition scrubber; and a hydrocyclone wherein an underflow, containing a coarser fraction of the feed slurry, passes out of a lower outlet of the hydrocylone while an overflow, containing a finer fraction of the feed slurry and most of the water, passes out of an outlet at the upper end of the hydrocyclone, a pump being provided for pumping material from the sump of the dewatering screen to the inlet of the hydrocyclone, wherein the underflow from the hydrocyclone is passed into the attrition scrubber.

A filter container for separating cells includes a tubular filter member-housing part having an opening at each longitudinal end, a liquid inlet port on a first opening end side of the filter member-housing part, a liquid outlet port on a second opening end side of the filter member-housing part, a first filter-pressing part on the first opening end side, and a second filter-pressing part on the second opening end side. The first filter-pressing part includes three or more first protrusions, and the ratio of an area of a polygon formed by individually connecting the tips of the three or more first protrusions to a cross-sectional area of an inner space of the filter member-housing part at the first protrusion position is controlled within a preset range.