METHOD OF GRADING MINERALS TO THEIR LUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC B07C5/00 

FIELD: process engineering.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method consists in transfer of the flow of material to be separated, irradiating it by train of exciting radiation pulses with duration sufficient for ignition of luminescence slow component, recording mineral luminescence signal intensity for every interval of said train, real-time processing of recorded signal, defining separation criterion, comparing the latter with preset threshold and extracting dressed mineral from aforesaid material according to results of comparison. Note here that luminescence signal intensity thresholds are set for time wherein excitation pulse affects the material and in preset time after pulse termination. In processing recorded signal, first signal intensity is defined in preset time after exciting pulse termination to compare obtained value with its threshold to extract dressed mineral. In case signal intensity in preset time after termination of exciting pulse is smaller than its threshold, signal intensity originating during said exciting pulse is determined and compared with its threshold. Thereafter, dressed mineral is extracted from material being separated if threshold is exceeded. Proposed method may be implemented at X-ray luminescence separators at all stages of dressing, and in control devices, for example, intended for control over diamond-containing stock.

EFFECT: higher degree of selective extraction.

3 cl, 2 dwg