Separation of limestone from limestone ore

摘要

A method for the separation of limestone from a particulate limestone ore containing particles of limestone and gangue which comprises conditioning the limestone ore with at least one coupling agent selected from saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids containing from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, or at least one coupling agent selected from the group consisting of aliphatic amines containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, and beta amines containing from about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms, to selectively coat the limestone or the gangue in the ore to the substantial exclusion of the other in combination with providing at least one fluorescent dye to said coupling agent; radiating the conditioned ore to excite and induce fluorescence of the fluorescent dye to a degree sufficient to distinguish the coated particles from the non- coated particles and separating the fluorescing, coated particles from the non-fluorescing, non-coated particles.