Integrated dewatering and demineralization unit for fine
This technology provides a way to remove water and mineral impurities from fine coal and similar hydrophobic particles more effectively than conventional methods. The process first clumps the hydrophobic particles together using oil, then breaks those clumps apart inside a specially designed vessel filled with a recyclable hydrophobic liquid. As the clumps are disrupted—using packing material, ragging material, or a static mixer—trapped water droplets and mineral contaminants are released and drained away separately, leaving behind much drier, cleaner hydrophobic particles. The hydrophobic liquid itself is recovered and reused, making the process economical to run continuously.
What you could build
A modular dewatering and cleaning unit for coal preparation plants and mineral processing facilities that integrates into existing wet-processing lines; buyers would be coal producers, coal refuse reprocessors, and mineral beneficiation operators seeking to upgrade fine-particle product quality and reduce drying energy costs.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia coal mining and preparation companies in Southwest Virginia (Buchanan, Tazewell, Wise counties) and coal refuse remediation operators would have direct operational interest in reducing moisture in fine coal products.
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
- Roe-Hoan Yoon, Gerald Luttrell, Nikhil Gupta
- Granted
- September 12, 2023
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11752451
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.