Document nk22gYgy35LgwokJMej2d322z

FILE NAME: WR Grace (WRG) DATE: April 30, 1954 DOC#: WRG274 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1954 Description of process for beneficiating asbestos gres. ATSi April 59 12S* t 'A m m j. DS5CHIPT*li re c e s s ?sa m u m cifirn m oass Paga I of I P. a The te rn "asb esto s" 03 new used Is not he n3 of a d is tin c t mineral , but Is a ceiswsrc Ia I term applied Vo any mineral th a t can ! ) read I? y separated inio more or less fle x ib le f ib e r s , There are many v a rie tie s of Asbestos mlnernls but they ars e s s e n tia lly im n Magnesium S ilic a te s hleh occur fibrous (Anbastl" form) w ith varying length of f ib e r . These s i l ic a t e s fveve varying co m p eltlcn s of S ill ca, Aluminum, Ire n , Magnesium, Calcium* Sodium, Manganese, Potassium and water with s p e c ific g ra v itie s ranging from 2,2 to 3*3 The p rin cip al types of Asbestos are C hryeotlla, C rceldolli"', Anthophyll!to , A&oslfe, and AjnpMbo? which includes Tresr. Ite * Act Inet It end Horr.^b! and. Asbestos deposits very ra re ly occur In pure m asses, but rasher are 1ntstmined with varying amounts of gamgue m inerals and She fib e rs req u ire lib e ra tio n as well 33 sep aratio n from the gangue m inerals before they can be used In She many varied forma and products, The gan^ue m inerals ara a lso e s s e n tia lly Magnesium S ilic a te s with varying qusn* t i t l e s of S i l i c a , Aluminum, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Manganese, ?ot" assium and w ater. The Pyroxene group includes such m inerals as Augite, Pyrcx sro , O lepside, A o g lriie , O lolage, E n s tn tlte , SronzJte, Hypers thane, e tc . The mica mineral group Includes such m inerals as Mica, V arm iculite, H ydrcbiotIts, G lo tlts and T alc. Other gangue m inerals are Serpentine, Quartz, fe ld sp a rs, A p a tite, Cal cl to , Magnetite o-.b Syenite rock. Tha :po cliIc g ra v itie s of 1 gangua m inerals rango from 2.3 to 3 .5 . Asbestos is now produced for the ccratefcial markets by dry processing using p rin c ip a lly a physical mean* such as crushing to free the vibers and then sep" aratfn g the fib e rs from tha rock or gangue mlnarols with a s e rie s of a ir a sp ira to r devices and screening. The process developed[by A. 0. Rovlg and A. ft. NSchol 1s under the d irec tio n of J . \t. Ranaone is a wet p ro cess. That {3 , the ore Is In the form of a w a te r' slurry throughout.th process until the final stage of drying tha asbestos . fib e rs which have been separated fr&a the gartgua mineral a t various stages of tha process. "J0 39 freest* for Saasite le tte r 8fcst$i $rcj Yfca 8 ppecasv hm d litliv g t odvon' ig c sj ?. lib erated f v w ' aJ flb o n con ba &&$ TC*>3d firca gsn^i salisaral* rssard leij* j < f .bor length o r s p e e lf 3d g r ts /ltic s . 2. A ssociated ralnerals of ?b Mica g m ip gu-ch a taica, v a ra Jsu iIts* hydroblot Ite end b l o tl t a are separated c 1 easoentraied end ?m b recovered os such (Rod m illin g & screening sts^ e ) 3. A ssociated mineral a \J hes . ler s p e d H e v ltJ c a such sa Pyron* ene, A patite and Magnetite are separated aid concentrated and eon fee recovered as such. (G ravity t i l l i n g st $ a .) b. Food ore Is washed p r k to J ib o ratio n stag a fetiich prasfves fiber color. $. F ibers are more e a s ily lib e ra te d and fib e r len ;h preserved wfc l wot than when dry. 6. Sxact and automatic control of lib e ra tio n stage (Rod M illing) 7 Recovery of exceptionally fin a ls k e d asbestos by c k o s l f i c a t Jon (Cyclone overflow-^ Ird c e n trifu g e ). 0. Z partition of asbestos from g-angus m lneraU by c la s s if ic a tio n , p .r tle io also and s .e c if lc g rav ity by tab lin g with axoct control o f '.feestes concentrate, asbestos content of to il is j , and ir.oterlal requiring further processing. 9 . P o sitiv e separation of asb c.to a from gang i i ith Coll F lo ta tio n . Chemical reagent schercw using Am ns and Oil will flo a t qanguo awmy from asb esto s. Cheialcal reagent scheme using fa tty Acid or soap schawie will flo a t csfcoatos avsy from gangue. 10. P ro `033 uses equipment well sie b llsh s d In the ora b e n e fie la tio n fie 4 as economical, g en eraliy high eapecifcy, and low maintenanca ___ rcachbies of standard design. 31. Process can cone; itr s te very low-grade asbestos ora. 12. Process Is wet so th a t dust problem la rasfi-enJsteni during actual sep aratio n of asbestos from gsngue. C-ust problem e x is ts only a fta r drying of final asbestos concentrate. 33. Cnly the aabosto-s ccncontrato la d rie d . Tha drying of jangm la ol I;,i! r.aicd. 1* April U lb ' Presses far S a c tflc lc h j A '>satos @s?a3 3 C7 * t& m m z U & : It In itia l l*08t!sat!si fo? th devoiopsant a f a fena* presets for sfca feai39#l!a4k o f T n a v liis Asbast. wsa bsgi*ii la April !$$2. This worfe v*aa s-tmflnsd to tfcs UWiy le k w a tw y for th purges of determining how tfta ac^uoi ssperasloRg eld bo ssd sad what serins o f conditions ware required to obt In these sopor dtlcno. A flew Sheet weg dcvelopsd from tho laboratory data ?ho /low Sheet sutUaad tbs required food preparation by rushing, screening r.nd d oilln fn g, She ccnecntrstlr.g by class If l&eS Ion, s!; on intratifig by part elo Isa end p acific gravity on tab les, the concentrating by c a ll flo ta tio n end deweterlng, drying or.d flu ffin g of the final concentrates. Two reagent 3chores for eoneentreting the esbaatos with call location v^sra davsJtaped. These rs^wsnt ssfcsssas v m the Fatty Acid schema end tha ..-alns and 0)1 aches. With the Petty Aald or c-Mp sefewse, the asbestos 13 floated swoy from tb" gang. With the Amina end 011 schema, tl'.a gatgue la flood'd amy rroea tho asbostssj. The laboratory pivssa fa covered In tha report "A Lc&oraSery Investigation for the le n o flc le tlo n of T r ^ ll; : Asbestos" by A. A. Mlholla erd A. 0. 3$vly, Libby, Meets. }, dated d ily !*>, 13^2. 11 i~ ^I& i& a8 A : The laboratory >rh was bl'.hly suscaeaftil end the FIew Sfeot d-ivnlov^rj fra th is w/rkwas transposed itv* a p ilo t pi sot operation. . The A *>aato3 P ilo t Plant operation la suKsrarfzed In tha report UA P ilot : l&ri Inveailgation for the fteneffolotioa o f Trcm) Ite Asbestos" ' / A. ft. MJeholls end A. 0. ftsvlg, dated duly 2S, at Libby, itontena. This report presents a compilation end study of tho asbestos p ilo t plant parforcvjnes during the year prior to 'July 25, 5963 The P ilo t Plant operation kaa siiscasafu! In producing an asbestos ocneentrata o f 8$t asbestos at a SO% recovery rrosn an era feed containing approximately 20% asbestos. The operation also alrrejltanacasly produeed cna vermlouHta by*predut of 791 .vcral.cuH{...grade and another o f Si&jrermiculJts grade a t .a ccR&l<d_____ recovery of 6j% whan t ';e ore feed contained appro*!matoi y 20% vormlcuM e In addition to the osbos < 3.. Asbestos eencentr itos ware also produced.froa eras containing le ss than frj% esb estm . 6m davelopnant not Included In the report Is that when ths coll asnccnhrnt Is further crushed end gravity tabled bo fore dawatsf Ing end drying, a I)Ichor grode estas tes concentrate re::ul s , All oquipe.r.vt :?3c-d in tl n fv'r-. 1 : plant 5g :11 scale cl a! ; < n;n machines such as l!iT"o)r iiU ls , f-ar.o crus hors, gcreoiu, Spiral Cl .-If iars, W-i Cyclones, Pu~ps, Tables, Colli;, 03rd gntrlfugo, Rotary Dryar, el ;. perform e a a stly 3 t f e lr Jargo? ccuntorports except for capacity end can i uockJ for conttnucus operation. Tivsroforn tivn p ilo t plant Is product lev &".nt cif-zbia c f ct3ntlr.ici;3 o-psrat Icn e t Its rated ceps c ity of lOG-D^ of fe,,n ; ;;* hour and all data c.n be d irectly scnlsd up for capacity purposss A<>rl1 D a IfJ - 1 S2S3fil6g.i9 ^&;i*S&9 $m t f ^ *} : / $ ?z,,z-a Surlfsg iho pt- Tsd <feK$a I* i r -2 io v'i i a )* 5*63, s esa^ysst *jt*3ssi S t a r t e r As&eatoi 'spuny -ssid tfca 3? iaiv.i -. / ! .-^jefti'la l fo sssreh f fe sh k $ sn S2ato ynlv@r:)Jty a t ?i3Hsa~n, w,as a eih" &t, 7h* ee?.tw t ?27eru) a Research Project cstsbl Isfcs-sJ f?// ?':& piurpoc f dwf spits a . :v .icai process fo r the b en aflcl-stlen o f ilsbeat r a , 'ifos p ro je c t lass uivinr >2 up^ryisloa of Dr. W. C. A i' ':er4;cd, fllrocibir uf 'llnlf.g EBfarlwmt S t a t ':; B, v i s !; j of In d u strial aeseureh of Wy. ftr. ahn A > Assoclat .' ta H u rg lu t, vies In d ire c t charge of the p ro je c t -and did tha work. te n th ly progress rep o rts war# su b a lttc d to in te r io r Asfeastes CsiB.; ;ny nd progress setInga tv ra -per Ic d lc ally hold between Cr. Altfcsfthaad, Br. J m k a i, Hr. Hovlg nd Hr. Hlcfcolls. The WSU p ro je c t v#as comfined a ! . * e n tir e ly to rose'./ch . k ^ ro v ln g the Patty Acid or Soap reegent scheaa In which the asbestos Is fle e te d m a y fre e the gcr^ue m i n e r a l T h i s rea g sr.; schema 'IfAar# fro the A alri c? I 911 schase with which the- $## a ln a ra ls ora flo a te d y from the esfeeates. A f a t t y Acid schema which w ill <jv:ontrate asbestos wc dev Ipod by th s h)U p ro je c t. The final re p o rt la T` W3H p ro je c t i > Is. i:sd on Way 31 1063* iim m L i The asbeatos mlnaval In the U bby deposit has fe&an Ident If Iad as Trcsol Ito which I a ml ru ra l of th e friph'bole group. The charcc s r l s t f e fib ers t#J S3 be sh o rt and b r i t t l e and In sc cases the a!mereI ry not eppetr In fib e r form. However, the develepad proses siafc* sqcnl ? :p a t leua rjonUesa of fib e r length nnd with good control for the pres rv a tlc n of xHUng -fiber lor ]th3. Sa-sewae tha asbestos ml moral In the Libby apeIt Is Trasol It, tha process v^e developed > th a t o ra, In October 1563 '.vs v.cro contacted by Mr. VI111Inn C. S tre lb , P, search Cantor, dohns-Hanvi) Ic P m lr.cts Corporntlon, fe n v U la , lisw d-arsey. Hr. S train wished to ntaico orreng-itrsn'is for us to ve$*prs-co33 ac.-.a) asbestos oro s c a l e s . Those era se<rplea free dshnsH^nvI11 were received In 4mu$?y 15vk and ta s te d In the Libby Jafccrotory during ?ebruary end Barch 12^ The work was supervised by A. ft. H lcholls and J . W. and the re s u lts ro cow rod In the vaport en I t l ' d uf oseardi nport on *k>hji$!snv!Ho Asbestos S s p i e s '1 by John W* Benson, dated April 23 1364. Thvde ora sr^Rples are id e n tifie d os C hrysotlle Asb'sstos In piifldotlt end Sorpentln. Tlve separation of tbo fib ar from tha gnr:gv 5.eppe, 1 .be s a tis fa c to ry .end cockle to .__Tlwt process worked equal 1> ____ well on the It jor fIfcerod C hrysotlie asbestos os on the sh o rte r fib er d ' 'oM te. ' The Cc jJ Flot U n stag e of tho process wes not used on s:...;p.03 boesuise tha s p sratlcn s.pgserod'to be complete a fte r tha tab I a sta ^ e . .-h i#* i r ') Pesela i w & ao f| | fa d tetcite* Sri of b \~z Cspea s? ra? ?$a -if to th is tls ;!<: e?t s y d s5 l8 a * H Svg A. 3.* Is&fi; .357 ir--.sSfgsSco f*r .ha Seseftclafifcn of Tracal! to 3&e$ejM> { Z - ^ lia Cercar,y r ^ l ) *5uy )^ 5362* Llfeby, ianicoa H!sta sila , A. ., and Rovfg* A. 9 ., ,?A P ilo t Plant In v estig atio n fer tha enef d a t i o n of TrcetoH to Asbestos**, (Zonol to Goe^ny report) duly 23. Libby, Montana tense J . W., "Research Superi on 4& nss'& nvIH* Asbosos Samples" , (2cnoIlte tais !c-n y, 3. Brace & 0. report) April 23 IS > ' Ibby, i n t a n a A!v a 8 . Mleholta J S k J L J ! S ^ 3 ^ ^ ^ __ Full t e of Inventor gtap' aJ ;cd te end understood hy rsa ha Ai? y 25* 1963 Dots o? Ccxap '.Ior) J y o f . ,aw* > n itji. ti r u m n * 9 c v >*cA.'sr.:M Signatur o f Wtossa Sate of SI pture Explained to and understood by ma t h o _ ^ . d n y o f______ --^-iiH i e . '>.w w r . - . r .n a i i i i n i n m m i i n m o m i Signature of Witness ilscorda may be found: F ile s , Zonolltc Division W. R. Grace 5 Co., U bby, Montana