RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH SPHERICAL AGGLOMERATION PROCESS

The process of removing particles from liquid suspension by selective wetting and agglomeration with a second immiscible liquid has many possible applications. Depending upon the amount of tthe second liquid used and the type of agitation to which the suspension is subjected, the particles to be separated are settled as flocs, as dense pellets or may simply be transferred to a continuous phase of the second liquid. This paper first describes the types of mixing equipment which have been used to carry out the process in its various forms and goes on to discuss a number of specific applications. These include the upgrading of coking coals by selective agglomeration, the pelletization of soluble salts, the formation of highly spherical bodies from various materials and the beneficiation of ores. Copyright © 1969 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering