A method for separating cells in a biofluid includes pretreating the biofluid by introducing an additive comprising a cell activator, flowing the pretreated biofluid through a microfluidic separation channel, and applying acoustic energy to the microfluidic separation channel to accumulate target cells in a primary stream and non-target cells in a secondary stream. A system for microfluidic cell separation capable of separating target cells from non-target cells in a biofluid includes at least one microfluidic separation channel, a source of biofluid, a source of additive comprising a cell activator, and at least one acoustic transducer coupled to the microfluidic separation channel.

A method for separating cells in a biofluid includes pretreating the biofluid by introducing an additive, flowing the pretreated biofluid through a microfluidic separation channel, and applying acoustic energy to the microfluidic separation channel. A system for microfluidic cell separation, capable of separating target cells from non-target cells in a biofluid includes at least one microfluidic separation channel, a source of biofluid, a source of additive, and at least one acoustic transducer coupled to the microfluidic separation channel. A kit for microfluidic cell separation includes a microfluidic separation channel connected to an acoustic transducer, a source of an additive, and instructions for use.

Apparatus is provided for mineral separation, featuring a mixer configured to mix a mineral bearing ore feed and hydrophobic media particles, the mineral bearing ore feed being crushed and ground and having an ore particle size distribution characterized by about 50% or more of particles at a size of about 150 m or less with finer particulates and mid-range particles, the hydrophobic polymer based particles having a media size of about 300 m or more and being configured to collect the finer particulates and mid-range particles in the mineral bearing ore through hydrophobic attraction, and provide a modified feed having loaded coarse particles loaded with the finer particulates and mid-range particles attached thereto for further processing.

Apparatus, such as a flotation separation device, features a flotation cell or column configured to receive a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material; receive polymer-based materials, including polymer bubbles or beads, configured to attach to the valuable material in the mixture; and provide enriched polymer-based materials, including enriched polymer bubbles or beads, having the valuable material attached thereon.

Apparatus, such as a flotation separation device, features a flotation cell or column configured to receive a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material; receive polymer-based materials, including polymer bubbles or beads, configured to attach to the valuable material in the mixture; and provide enriched polymer-based materials, including enriched polymer bubbles or beads, having the valuable material attached thereon.

A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.

A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.

Systems and methods for recovering bullets from a backstop are disclosed. In one example embodiment of a method, fired bullets and backstop material are collected from the backstop. The fired bullets and backstop material may be vacuumed. The collected bullets are separated from the backstop material based on buoyancy of the collected bullets and backstop material in a liquid. The liquid may have a density that is greater than the density of the backstop material and less than the density of the collected bullets.

The present invention relates to an environmentally-friendly biochemical composition for use as an additive into an aqueous medium in order to increase the process efficiency and resulting grade in all gravimetric and magnetic wet ore concentration and classification methods that essentially require the use of water, in the mining industry. The invention particularly relates to a biochemical liquid concentrate composition for use as an additive into the existing process or feed water, and a method of use thereof, comprising a fermentation supernatant obtained from the culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants and anionic surfactants, preferably hydrogen peroxide or chlorine dioxide, and urea-based or other suitable preservatives, which increases the process efficiency and grade recovery, without requiring an additional facility investment, in said ore beneficiation processes.

The present invention relates to an environmentally-friendly biochemical composition for use as an additive into an aqueous medium in order to increase the process efficiency and resulting grade in all gravimetric and magnetic wet ore concentration and classification methods that essentially require the use of water, in the mining industry. The invention particularly relates to a biochemical liquid concentrate composition for use as an additive into the existing process or feed water, and a method of use thereof, comprising a fermentation supernatant obtained from the culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants and anionic surfactants, preferably hydrogen peroxide or chlorine dioxide, and urea-based or other suitable preservatives, which increases the process efficiency and grade recovery, without requiring an additional facility investment, in said ore beneficiation processes.