A Simple Air-Stream Clay Separator

Abstract

A simple, air-stream clay separator was devised to separate the 30 mm and smaller fraction from relatively large amounts of dry clay. The separator can process approximately 36 kg of clay in six hours with an average product yield of about 800 g, depending upon the initial particle size distribution of the clay. By increasing the length of the separator the design can be altered to separate an even smaller size fraction. The air-stream separator could be used as a simple and expedient preconcentration step prior to final separation in a typical laboratorymodel, low-volume hydrocyclone, or for separation of the clay fraction from dry soil.

The air separator is based on the principle that smaller, lighter clay particles travel farther than larger, heavier particles before settling out of the air stream. Of course, particle clumps act as individual particles. Therefore, unflocculated, dry clay gives the best yield in the air separator.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Air Separator; Clay Separator; Particle Size

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0022-4472

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1993 Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jul 1993

Link to Full Text

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