Disclosed herein are methods for isolating target cells from blood, involving mixing in an open container an undiluted blood sample having a volume of 10 ml or less, and binding agents, wherein each binding agent comprises (A) a primary binding agent comprising an agent capable of binding to at least one cellular epitope on target cells in the undiluted blood sample, (B) a first linker bound to the primary binding agent, to generate binding agent-attached target cells in the undiluted blood sample; contacting the binding agent-attached target cells in the undiluted blood sample with a plurality of buoyant reagents that include a second linker capable of binding to the first linker to generate an undiluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture; diluting the undiluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture by at least 20% to produce a diluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture; applying a vectorial force, such as centrifugal force, to the diluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture to generate a stratified diluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture; removing the buoyant reagent-attached target cells from the stratified diluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture; and isolating the target cells from the buoyant reagent-attached target cells.

Apparatus uses engineered collection media to recover mineral particles in a mineral extraction process, e.g., for processing a tailings stream at the end of a flotation separation process. The engineered collection media are added to slurry/tailings containing the mineral particles. The engineered collection media have collection surfaces coated with a chemical selected for attracting the mineral particles to the collection surfaces so the engineered collection media becomes mineral laden media in the slurry/tailings in a loading stage. The apparatus include three stages: removing unwanted material from mineral laden media; using a stripping agent to strip the mineral particles from the mineral laden media; and separating the engineered collection media from the mineral particles and the stripping agent. The stripping agent is reused for stripping, and the engineered collection media are returned to the loading stage. The engineered collection media can have a smooth or foam-like surface.

Apparatus uses engineered collection media to recover mineral particles in a mineral extraction process, e.g., for processing a tailings stream at the end of a flotation separation process. The engineered collection media are added to slurry/tailings containing the mineral particles. The engineered collection media have collection surfaces coated with a chemical selected for attracting the mineral particles to the collection surfaces so the engineered collection media becomes mineral laden media in the slurry/tailings in a loading stage. The apparatus include three stages: removing unwanted material from mineral laden media; using a stripping agent to strip the mineral particles from the mineral laden media; and separating the engineered collection media from the mineral particles and the stripping agent. The stripping agent is reused for stripping, and the engineered collection media are returned to the loading stage. The engineered collection media can have a smooth or foam-like surface.

A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

The present embodiments generally relate to a technology for improving Cu/Mo grade by the addition of cationic polymers as selective depressants for acid insoluble matters, e.g., silicates and/or clays, in the flotation circuit. Various types of cationic polymers are demonstrated to be effective depressants including polyamine, polyDADMAC, and cationic polyacrylamide. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more cationic polymer depressants.

The present embodiments generally relate to a technology for improving Cu/Mo grade by the addition of cationic polymers as selective depressants for acid insoluble matters, e.g., silicates and/or clays, in the flotation circuit. Various types of cationic polymers are demonstrated to be effective depressants including polyamine, polyDADMAC, and cationic polyacrylamide. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral and gangue, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more cationic polymer depressants.

The present invention relates to a process for treating non-sulfidic ores with a collector composition containing a primary and a secondary collector, wherein the primary collector is selected from the group of amphoteric and anionic surface active compounds and the secondary collector is an ethoxylated fatty acid wherein the average degree of ethoxylation is higher than 0 and less than 2, to collector compositions suitable for use in the above process, and to pulp comprising such collector compositions.

The present invention relates to a process for treating non-sulfidic ores with a collector composition containing a primary and a secondary collector, wherein the primary collector is selected from the group of amphoteric and anionic surface active compounds and the secondary collector is an ethoxylated fatty acid wherein the average degree of ethoxylation is higher than 0 and less than 2, to collector compositions suitable for use in the above process, and to pulp comprising such collector compositions.

Disclosed herein are methods for isolating target cells from blood, involving mixing in an open container an undiluted blood sample having a volume of 10 ml or less, and binding agents, wherein each binding agent comprises (A) a primary binding agent comprising an agent capable of binding to at least one cellular epitope on target cells in the undiluted blood sample, (B) a first linker bound to the primary binding agent, to generate binding agent-attached target cells in the undiluted blood sample; contacting the binding agent-attached target cells in the undiluted blood sample with a plurality of buoyant reagents that include a second linker capable of binding to the first linker to generate an undiluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture; diluting the undiluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture by at least 20% to produce a diluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture; applying a vectorial force, such as centrifugal force, to the diluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture to generate a stratified diluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture; removing the buoyant reagent-attached target cells from the stratified diluted buoyant reagent-attached target cell mixture; and isolating the target cells from the buoyant reagent-attached target cells.