초록 ▼

A method of enhancing the brightness (beneficiating) of kaolin clays by removing titanium impurities is disclosed. The claimed method is a selective flocculation process wherein clay solids are blunged (dispersed) in water together with a dispersing agent and an ammonium salt conditioning agent. Whe

A method of enhancing the brightness (beneficiating) of kaolin clays by removing titanium impurities is disclosed. The claimed method is a selective flocculation process wherein clay solids are blunged (dispersed) in water together with a dispersing agent and an ammonium salt conditioning agent. When a water-dispersible anionic polymer is added to the dispersed and conditioned clay suspension, titanium flocs are separated from the suspension yielding a whiter kaolin clay product. Unlike prior art selective flocculation processes, the use of highly-dilute dispersions and/or multiple washing steps is not required.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of removing titanium impurities from kaolin clay comprising the following steps in sequence: (A) blunging an aqueous kaolin clay suspension having 45 to 70 percent solids by weight, said suspension containing (i) an amount of dispersing agent sufficient to achieve minimum viscosity for said

A method of removing titanium impurities from kaolin clay comprising the following steps in sequence: (A) blunging an aqueous kaolin clay suspension having 45 to 70 percent solids by weight, said suspension containing (i) an amount of dispersing agent sufficient to achieve minimum viscosity for said suspension and substantially free of excess dispersing agents, and (ii) 0.1 pounds to 10.0 pounds, per ton of dry clay, of a conditioning agent consisting essentially of a water-soluble ammonium salt; (B) diluting the blunged clay suspension with an amount of water sufficient to form a clay slip having 10 to 40 percent solids by weight; (C) adding 0.01 pounds to 5.0 pounds, per ton of dry clay, of a water-dispersible anionic polymer to said clay slip, whereby a separation of titanium-containing flocs is effected from said slip and (D) separating a white claim product from said titanium-containing flocs; wherein steps A, B and C are performed in a substantially continuous manner, without aging said blunged clay suspension or said clay slip.