Multistream, multiproduct beneficiation arrangement

Claim 1

A multiple stream, multiple product method for froth flotation separation of the components of an input slurry having particulate coal therein, said method comprising: (a) in a first forward product stream, mixing a first quantity of chemical reagents with the particulate coal slurry, said chemical reagents comprising a monomer, a catalyst and a fluid hydrocarbon, spraying the particulate coal slurry with said chemical reagents mixed therein onto the surface of a liquid to create a floating froth phase on the liquid surface having a first quantity of the particulate coal therein, and allowing the remainder of the particulate coal slurry to separate from the froth phase by sinking in the liquid, and separating the froth phase as a first product; and (b) in a second scavenger product stream, mixing an additional quantity of said chemical reagents with said remainder of the separated particulate coal slurry, spraying said remainder particulate coal slurry with the additional chemical reagents onto the surface of a liquid to create a floating froth phase on the liquid surface having a second quantity of the particulate coal therein, and allowing the remainder of the particulate coal slurry to separate from the froth phase by sinking in the liquid, and separating the second froth phase as a second product, whereby first and second separate product streams are separated from the input slurry, wherein said fluid hydrocarbon in said first quantity of chemical reagents mixed with said forward product stream is restricted to a quantity which yields a lower recovery of said first product than said second product but which yields a first product which is cleaner than said second product and wherein said additional quantity of said chemical reagents mixed with said second scavenger product stream contains a sufficient quantity of fluid hydrocarbon to yield a higher recovery of said second product than first product and sufficient to yield a less clean second product than said first product but a cleaner second product than the particulate coal in said input slurry.