28-11-2019 дата публикации
Номер: US20190358677A1
Differences in x-ray absorption coefficients and ash content are used to process coal waste and concentrate rare earth elements (REE) found in coal seams. A method for processing the coal waste includes receiving, by a detector, at least one collimated x-ray beam from an x-ray source that has been passed through a sample of coal waste; determining measurements of at least one x-ray absorption characteristic of the sample based on the received at least one collimated x-ray beam; and identifying a first region in the sample having a concentration of rare earth elements based on the measured x-ray absorption characteristic. 1. A method of sorting materials , comprising the steps of:receiving, by a detector, at least one collimated x-ray beam from an x-ray source that has been passed through a sample of coal waste;measuring at least one x-ray absorption characteristic of the sample based on the received at least one collimated x-ray beam;identifying a first region in the sample having a concentration of rare earth elements based on the measured x-ray absorption characteristic; andphysically separating the first region from other regions in the sample.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first region in the sample comprises determining (a) whether the measured x-ray absorption characteristic is greater than an x-ray absorption characteristic of a coal material and (b) whether the measured x-ray absorption characteristic is less than an x-ray absorption characteristic of a rock material.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying the first region in the sample comprises identifying a region in the sample having a specific gravity between about 1.8 and about 2.0.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physically separating comprises sorting the first region of the sample from the other regions of the sample by use of an ejector.5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the ejector is an air blast.6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a ...
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