Method of applying acrylamide polymer flocculants

Claim 1

IN THE METHOD FOR CONCENTRATING AND SEPARATING FINELY DIVIDED MINERAL SOLIDS FROM AQUEOUS SUSPENSION BY ADMIXING WITH THE SUSPENSION A WATER-SOLUBLE, HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT, ACRYLAMIDE POLYMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE HOMOPOLYMER OF ACRYLAMIDE AND COPOLYMERS OF ACRYLAMIDE WITH UP TO ABOUT 15 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF ANOTHER MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACRYLIC ACID, ALKYL ESTERS OF ACRYLIC ACID AND METHACRYLIC ACID, METHACRYLAMIDE, STYRENE, VINYL ACETATE ACRYLONITRILE, METHACRYLONITRILE, VINYL ALKYL ETHERS, VINYL CHLORIDE AND VINYLIDENE CHLORIDE, SAID POLYMER BEING CHARACTERIZED BY A VISCOSITY OF AT LEAST 1 CENTIPOISE FOR A 0.5 PERCENT BY WEIGHT SOLUTION THEREOF IN DISTILLED WATER, ADJUSTED TO A PH 3-3.5 AND AT A TEMPERATURE OF 21.5* C., THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES ADMIXING SAID POLYMER WITH THE SUSPENSION OF MINERAL SOLIDS IN THE FORM OF AN AQUEOUS TREATING SOLUTION CONTAINING NOT MORE THAN 0.5 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE POLYMER, SAID TREATING SOLUTION BEING ADDED TO THE SUSPENSION PORTIONWISE AS MULTIPLE, SUBSTANTIAL INCREMENTS WITH GENTLE MIXING, SAID PORTIONWISE ADDITION BEING ACCOMPLISHED BY CONDUCTING THE SUSPENSION OF MINERAL THROUGH A CONDUIT WHILE INTRODUCING SAID TREATING SOLUTION AT A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART POSITIONS ALONG SAID CONDUIT AND THE TREATED SUSPENSION BEING THEREAFTER PASSED INTO A QUIESCENT ZONE AND MAINTAINED UNDER CONDITIONS OF MINIMAL AGITATION UNTIL THE DESIRED SEPARATION IS COMPLETED.