Apparatus for separating organic material from particulate tar sands and coal and agglomeration of the particulate residue

摘要

A rotatable drum having an interior which tapers in a horizontal direction has a first port at the smaller end for receiving particulate Tar Sands or coal, and an agglomerating liquid, e.g. water, and a second port at the larger end for receiving an organic material separating liquid, e.g. Varsol, with which the agglomerating liquid is immiscible. The first port is, for example, larger than the second port so that the separating liquid will drain from the drum through the first port. A conveying means delivers the particulate material and agglomerating liquid into the drum interior, and the separating liquid forms a slurry therewith so that inorganic residue from the particulate material is formed into ball agglomerates as it tumbles along the drum and the ball agglomerates overflow through the second port while the separating liquid fed into the second port separates organic material from the particulate material (Tar Sands) in the drum and overflows therewith through the first port.