Cationic processing of kaolin ores

摘要

A method for recovering a fine particle size fraction of a negatively charged mineral from an ore, such as a kaolin clay crude, which comprises forming an aqueous pulp of the ore, dispersing the pulp by adding thereto sufficient water-soluble organic cationic dispersant to impart a positive zeta potential to said particles and, preferably, an acidic pH to said pulp, removing coarse particles from said dispersed pulp and fractionating the dispersed pulp to separate a fine particle size fraction of mineral particles from coarser particles.