William A Denicolo

US Patent:

45127603, Apr 23, 1985

Filed:

Jan 19, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/572193

Inventors:

William DeNicolo - Chicago IL
Pershing Nakada - Elmhurst IL

International Classification:

B01D 2126

US Classification:

494 37

Abstract:

A method for selective separation of fine metal particles from a mixture of fine particles, including the rotating of a bowl to generate a centrifugal force, building a wall of mercury media inside the bowl so that the outer surface of the mercury contacts the inner surface of the bowl when the bowl is rotating, and injecting a slurry comprising a mixture of water and fine particles of metal and sand, clay and the like, to propel the slurry against the mercury wall, so that the heavier metal particles as compared with the mercury contact, penetrate and pass through the mercury, and the particles lighter than the mercury are blocked from entry into the mercury and discharged from the bowl with the water. The injecting of additional slurry into the bowl increases the metal particle penetration to cause the formation of a layer of metal particles between the mercury and the inner surface of the bowl. The device used for selectively separating the metal particles heavier than the mercury from the lighter particles in the slurry includes a bowl comprising a plurality of compartments for holding the mercury substance, so that a cylindrical wall is formed around the inside of the bowl, prior to injecting the slurry into the bowl.