Fine-particle dewatering and cleaning unit for mineral
This technology is a two-step process for cleaning and drying fine particles that naturally repel water, such as coal fines or certain minerals. First, the particles are mixed with a liquid that causes them to clump together, trapping water and unwanted particles inside those clumps. Then those clumps are transferred into a second liquid that breaks them apart in a way that pushes out the trapped water and contaminants. The result is a cleaner, drier batch of the desired material without the energy-intensive drying equipment typically required.
What you could build
A modular dewatering and cleaning unit for coal preparation plants or mineral processing facilities, licensed to equipment manufacturers or sold as a process upgrade to mining operators looking to recover fine-particle streams they currently discard.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia has active coal mining and preparation operations in the southwest part of the state; coal preparation plant operators and their equipment suppliers would be the natural audience.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- —
- Granted
- October 29, 2019
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 102812
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology. Email us for an introduction prosim@harbor.capital.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.