THIS invention relates to a method of disposing of residues from the comminution and processing of ores. The method includes the steps of classifying the processing residues into a water permeable sand fraction and a tailings fraction and depositing the tailings fraction and the sand fraction to form a multilayer structure contained by at least one containment wall (14) with the sand fraction forming continuous channels (12) through the tailings fraction (10) to allow water contained in the tailings and sand to flow by gravity, through the sand channels, to water discharge points (16), and recovering the water (18) from the water discharge points.

The invention is directed to a process for separating particles using a wet density-based separation device, wherein at least part of said particles are coated prior to being fed to said density-based separation device. In accordance with the invention separation medium that is employed in density-based separation processes can be saved.

Described herein are technologies for concentrating rare-earth elements from a heavy fraction of grit in gangue produced in kaolin mining. In some examples, grit is separated as a non-clay fraction of gangue produced in a kaolin mining operation. The grit is separated into a heavy mineral grit sub-fraction and a light mineral grit sub-fraction. Rare-earth elements, particularly heavy rare-earth elements, are thereafter extracted from the heavy mineral grit sub-fraction using various extraction technologies.

Described herein are technologies for concentrating rare-earth elements from a heavy fraction of grit in gangue produced in kaolin mining. In some examples, grit is separated as a non-clay fraction of gangue produced in a kaolin mining operation. The grit is separated into a heavy mineral grit sub-fraction and a light mineral grit sub-fraction. Rare-earth elements, particularly heavy rare-earth elements, are thereafter extracted from the heavy mineral grit sub-fraction using various extraction technologies.

Systems and methods for the removal of electronic chips and other components from PWBs using liquid heat media are generally described. According to certain embodiments, PWBs comprising solder can be positioned within a rotatable housing. The rotatable housing can, in some embodiments, be at least partially immersed within a liquid heat medium. The liquid heat medium can be heated and/or maintained at a temperature sufficiently high to melt the solder. In some embodiments, the rotatable housing can be rotated while it is at least partially immersed in the liquid heat medium. The rotational force can aid, according to some embodiments, in the removal of solder, electronic chips (including those in which an integrated circuit is positioned on a piece of semiconductor material, such as silicon), and/or other electronic components attached to one or more surfaces of the PWB.

Systems and methods for the removal of electronic chips and other components from PWBs using liquid heat media are generally described. According to certain embodiments, PWBs comprising solder can be positioned within a rotatable housing. The rotatable housing can, in some embodiments, be at least partially immersed within a liquid heat medium. The liquid heat medium can be heated and/or maintained at a temperature sufficiently high to melt the solder. In some embodiments, the rotatable housing can be rotated while it is at least partially immersed in the liquid heat medium. The rotational force can aid, according to some embodiments, in the removal of solder, electronic chips (including those in which an integrated circuit is positioned on a piece of semiconductor material, such as silicon), and/or other electronic components attached to one or more surfaces of the PWB.

The present invention is a process of recycling plastics based on eliminating the need to pre-sort different plastic materials and using physics to separate plastic particles based on the gravitational weight of those particles. Plastics are grounded down into very small pellets using a uniform pressure cylinder with dimples. Then, the small plastic pellets are separated using a float-sink method. Using the float-sink separation method, the plastics can be lifted and organized by density and by gravitational weight from lower densities to higher densities using different gases or liquids with different gravity weights or densities.

The present invention is a process of recycling plastics based on eliminating the need to pre-sort different plastic materials and using physics to separate plastic particles based on the gravitational weight of those particles. Plastics are grounded down into very small pellets using a uniform pressure cylinder with dimples. Then, the small plastic pellets are separated using a float-sink method. Using the float-sink separation method, the plastics can be lifted and organized by density and by gravitational weight from lower densities to higher densities using different gases or liquids with different gravity weights or densities.

Disclosed is a pretreatment method for utilization of coal pond ash (coal ash buried in ash ponds near coal-fired power plants), and more specifically a treatment method of coal pond ash capable of utilizing coal ash with high efficiency through simple separation processes including screening, float-sink, flotation, grinding, and magnetic separation.

Disclosed is a pretreatment method for utilization of coal pond ash (coal ash buried in ash ponds near coal-fired power plants), and more specifically a treatment method of coal pond ash capable of utilizing coal ash with high efficiency through simple separation processes including screening, float-sink, flotation, grinding, and magnetic separation.